[Chairman Lee Jae-yong Inauguration] Reflections and Determination... "Enriching Humanity with Technology... The Path for Samsung's Future"

Lee Jae-yong's New Samsung
Emphasizing Technology and Talent Importance

[Asia Economy Reporter Sunmi Park] "A company that enriches human society with technology that does not exist in the world, the future Samsung."

On the first day of his promotion to chairman on the 27th, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong posted his reflections and determination on the company bulletin board without any separate event or inauguration speech, replacing the inauguration address.

In a piece titled "Challenge for the Future," Chairman Lee mentioned the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, whose second anniversary was on the 25th, saying, "It is my mission to inherit and develop the achievements and legacy of the predecessor." He lamented that unfortunately, in recent years, we have not been able to move forward, have not led new fields, and are facing fierce challenges from followers in existing markets.

Chairman Lee's realistic assessment was cold.

He judged, "I recently looked around global markets and domestic and overseas business sites. It is desperate. The reality before us is severe, and the market is ruthless." Then he said, "Now is the time to be more bold and challenging," emphasizing the importance of 'talent and technology.' Chairman Lee stressed the need to recruit and nurture talent who can change the world regardless of gender or nationality, as well as the need to invest in technology that does not exist in the world. He said, "Our survival depends on future technology," adding, "The best technology is created by excellent talents. An organizational culture where talents can freely play is also necessary."

Vice Chairman Lee said, "A company that turns dreams and imagination into reality, a company that constantly opens new worlds, a company that enriches human society with technology that does not exist in the world?this is the unified vision of you and me, the future Samsung," and declared, "Let's create together a true top-tier company beyond today's Samsung, a company loved by the people and the world. I will stand at the forefront of that."

Chairman Lee has consistently emphasized securing 'super-gap technology' that can lead the global market with sustained growth without wavering even in crises. After returning from a business trip to Europe in June, his first words of reflection were "First is technology, second is technology, third is technology." At the groundbreaking ceremony of the Giheung semiconductor research and development (R&D) complex in August, he also urged, "If there had been no bold R&D investment not only in the next generation but also in the next-next generation products, today's Samsung Semiconductor would not exist. Let's continue the tradition of valuing technology and pioneering investment. Let's create the future with technology that does not exist in the world."

Leading Samsung, a company that enriches human society with technology that does not exist in the world, Chairman Lee is 54 years old this year and graduated from Kyungbock High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Oriental History before joining Samsung Electronics in 1991.

He attended the Graduate School of Management at Keio University in Japan and completed the Doctor of Business Administration program at Harvard Business School in the United States. He returned to Samsung Electronics in 2001 as an assistant general manager in the Corporate Planning Office and began formal management training. He was promoted to general manager in 2003, executive director and Chief Customer Officer (CCO) in 2007. In December 2009, he was promoted to vice president and Chief Operating Officer (COO), expanding his management scope. He was appointed vice chairman of Samsung Electronics in 2012, and served as chairman of the Samsung Culture Foundation from 2015 to 2020 and chairman of the Samsung Life Public Welfare Foundation from 2015 to 2021, taking symbolic steps for group succession.

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