Lee Jae-yong's Aggressive On-Site Management in the New Year... Reviewing Semiconductor, 5G, 6G, and AI Businesses (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been conducting on-site management continuously since the beginning of the new year. On the first working day of the year, January 4th, and the following day, January 5th, he inspected the Pyeongtaek foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) plant in Gyeonggi Province and the network production line at the Suwon site, respectively. On January 6th, he discussed next-generation technology-related business strategies at Samsung Research.

On the afternoon of the same day, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong presided over a set division executives meeting at Samsung Research located in Umyeon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, reviewing future mid- to long-term strategies including next-generation 6G communication technology and artificial intelligence (AI) research and development status.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Lee received reports on ▲ progress in next-generation communication technology research ▲ securing server technology ▲ application status of AI technology in products. Attendees included Kim Hyun-seok, CEO of the CE Division; Ko Dong-jin, CEO of the IM Division; Choi Yoon-ho, Head of the Management Support Office; Sebastian Seung, Director of Samsung Research; and presidents in charge of each business division.

Samsung Research oversees ▲ Global AI Center ▲ Next-Generation Communication Research Center ▲ Software Innovation Center, among others, and is responsible for research and development of advanced technologies in promising future fields. In the AI sector, innovations in smartphone, TV, and home appliance functions incorporating AI are underway, while in the next-generation communication field, research on core 6G technologies is being conducted.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is inspecting the construction site of Plant 3 at the Pyeongtaek campus on the 4th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s vigorous on-site management activities are interpreted as efforts to secure future growth engines in the post-COVID-19 era. Recently, he stated, "It is a natural duty to discover new businesses, expand operations, and grow the company," adding, "I will nurture the company and the industrial ecosystem with a sense of mission." When visiting the Pyeongtaek plant, he emphasized, "Let us leap forward as a new Samsung in the new year 2021. Together, we can open the future wide," and urged, "Samsung Electronics, partners, academia, and research institutions should cooperate to create a healthy ecosystem and make a legend in system semiconductors." At the Suwon site, he also inspected the 5G network equipment production line and presided over a production technology innovation meeting at the Global Technology Center (GTC). This was to reexamine the 5G business strategy, which is expected to grow rapidly worldwide this year.

Since 2018, Vice Chairman Lee has selected core technologies essential for realizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as AI, 5G, and automotive semiconductors, as Samsung’s 'future growth businesses' and has been accelerating the nurturing of new businesses. His on-site management activities are expected to continue throughout this month. It is known that he plans to inspect home appliance and automotive businesses in Gwangju and Hwaseong during this week and next week.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.