Lee Jae-yong Accelerates 'New Samsung' Technology and Communication Management... "Combines Consistency and Innovation"

Communicating Daily with MZ and Regular Employees While Visiting Technical Sites
"Technology, Technology, and More Technology" Praised for Matching Words with Actions

Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics holds a meeting with employees of the Device Experience (MX) division on the 26th. (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Among the press photos taken by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong this year, one that drew significant attention was the photo taken last June with the management of the Dutch EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography equipment company ASML, where they were seen linking arms. This was a visit he made after being granted parole and obtaining the court's difficult permission. At first glance, it could have been seen as mere pleading or a show, but it demonstrated concrete achievements and a moment of shedding emotional burdens. This was just two months ago.

The situation changed after the special pardon and reinstatement on Liberation Day. He made three on-site visits, which were so unprecedented that the 'linking arms photo' has been relatively overshadowed. He took photos with MZ generation (born between the 1980s and early 2000s) employees in a pose where the Galaxy Z Flip is bent at a 90-degree angle, and shared memories of a 5-night, 6-day vacation with his mother, while also receiving valuable insights such as the image of Samsung as seen by the MZ generation, which is necessary for next year's new products and 'New Samsung' management.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong took this photo on June 14 (local time) during his business trip to ASML, a Dutch company that manufactures EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography equipment. Standing beside Vice Chairman Lee, from left to right, are Peter Wennink, ASML CEO, and Martin van den Brink, ASML CTO. Industry insiders evaluate that Vice Chairman Lee is showing a consistent approach that matches his statement of "technology, technology, and more technology." (Photo by Samsung Electronics) [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the business community on the 27th, the places Vice Chairman Lee visited for on-site management before and after his reinstatement were all at the forefront of 'technology'?semiconductors, engineering, and display sectors?earning praise. There is a positive evaluation that Vice Chairman Lee, who declared 'technology management,' is practicing consistency between his words and actions.

Although there were some criticisms that investing 450 trillion won overseas due to U.S. political pressure might be excessive, it is generally viewed that he is showing a consistent approach related to his own statement, "Technology, technology, and more technology." His communication mainly with the MZ generation and regular employees is also considered 'unprecedented.'

Summarizing the situation, the business community evaluates that Vice Chairman Lee is demonstrating a management approach that captures both 'consistency' (technology management) and 'innovation' (communication with regular employees rather than executives) before and after his reinstatement. A business community official commented, "Since Vice Chairman Lee's reinstatement, a wind of change is blowing on the ground."

A Samsung Electronics official also said the day before that Vice Chairman Lee's communication with MZ generation employees at the Suwon plant's Visual Display Business Division "appears to be a direct on-site check rather than a 'report' to see whether MZ generation employees are working creatively and proactively, and whether they feel a sense of belonging and pride, and to find areas for improvement."

Before communicating with the MZ generation the day before, on the 19th, Vice Chairman Lee encouraged employees while dining at the cafeteria during the groundbreaking ceremony of the next-generation semiconductor research and development (R&D) complex at the Giheung Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Later, at an employee meeting held at the Hwaseong Campus, he promised to gradually increase opportunities for direct communication with employees and took one-on-one commemorative photos with all attending employees.

On the 24th, he visited the Samsung Engineering Global Engineering Center (GEC) in Sangil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, had lunch at the cafeteria, and took photos with employees. Afterwards, he visited the in-house daycare center attended by about 100 children, checked on its operation status, and encouraged the childcare teachers.

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