New Samsung Strengthens Synergy of '6G·AI'... Leading Communications and Driving AI

Jeon Gyeonghun 'R&D General Manager'... Seung Hyunjun 'Global Industry-Academia Cooperation'

Jeon Gyeonghun, CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Samsung Electronics DX (Device Experience) Division and President of Samsung Research. (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Samsung Electronics has adjusted the head of its research and development (R&D) organization to maximize synergy between future growth engines 6G (6th generation mobile communication) and artificial intelligence (AI) businesses. The president of the Network Business Division has been assigned overall responsibility for R&D in the entire DX (Device Experience) division, while the top AI expert has been tasked with global industry-academia cooperation and talent acquisition in North America and other regions.

According to industry sources on the 11th, Samsung Electronics appointed two presidents of Samsung Research, the organization overseeing R&D in the DX division, with changes in their duties in the regular executive personnel reshuffle announced the previous day for next year. Jeon Kyung-hoon, the newly appointed head of Samsung Research, is a former professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and a ‘mobile communication expert’ who led the world’s first commercialization of 5G (5th generation mobile communication). President Jeon will concurrently serve as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), overseeing technology and R&D in the DX division.

With President Jeon concurrently serving as head of Samsung Research, some interpret this as a move to strengthen the mobile business within DX. Since the pardon and reinstatement of Chairman Lee Jae-yong on August 12, the mobile business has been regarded as a future growth engine of the ‘New Samsung’ alongside semiconductors and bio sectors. It is also noted that the home appliance division has faced criticism over washing machine quality issues, along with adverse factors such as poor performance and increased inventory. Samsung Electronics stated, "(President Jeon) will lead the discovery of future growth engines for Samsung Electronics by ‘overseeing’ advanced research in the DX business as head of Samsung Research."

Seunghyun Jun, President of Samsung Electronics DX (Device Experience) Division and Head of Global Research and Development (R&D) Collaboration at Samsung Research. (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

With President Jeon taking over as head of Samsung Research, the previous head, President Seung Hyun-joon, will move to the position of President in charge of global R&D cooperation. Recognized as a top AI expert, President Seung led R&D as head of Samsung Research for three years before moving to the cooperation department. He will focus on industry-academia cooperation and talent acquisition with major overseas universities and research institutions, rather than mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or sales activities. President Seung is a non-Samsung executive who has served as a professor at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Computer Science. Effectively, President Seung will take the lead on-site for AI R&D cooperation primarily centered in North America. This aligns with Samsung’s management policy of establishing AI research bases in Seoul, as well as Silicon Valley and New York in the U.S., Cambridge in the U.K., Toronto and Montreal in Canada, and Moscow in Russia. Samsung Electronics said, "(President Seung) will strengthen R&D cooperation with major overseas universities and advanced research institutes and focus on recruiting global top talent."

Industry insiders interpret the reassignment of the two presidents’ duties as a measure to more systematically strengthen research and industry-academia cooperation to enhance ‘6G+AI’ synergy. In fact, Samsung Electronics has been steadily implementing policies to expand AI research organizations, file related patents, and increase company-wide R&D investment. From January 2020 to June 2021, while President Seung was head of Samsung Research, Samsung filed 1,271 AI patents, setting a world record. This achievement surpassed those of Intel and IBM in the U.S. Despite poor performance and a surge in inventory, Samsung Electronics invested a cumulative 18.4556 trillion won in R&D in the first to third quarters of this year. This is a new record for cumulative investment in the first to third quarters, up 14% from 16.1857 trillion won during the same period last year.

The personnel changes appointing the two presidents to lead R&D in the DX division correspond to the ‘change’ aspect of Samsung Electronics’ personnel policy for next year, described as ‘change within stability.’ Samsung Electronics stated, "We will maintain the dual CEO system with Han Jong-hee, head of the DX division and vice chairman, and Kyung Kye-hyun, head of the DS and semiconductor division and president, to ensure management stability amid uncertain internal and external environments. At the same time, we hope this will provide an opportunity to leap forward as a customer-centric top-tier company through bold ‘change and innovation’ in preparation for the future."

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