Lee Jae-yong Returns from Southeast Asia Business Trip: "Wishing Only Good Things Next Year" (Comprehensive)

Chairman Lee Jae-yong Inspects Southeast Asia Bases
Multiple Business Trips to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore Conducted Mostly Privately

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned home on the 30th after a business trip to Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Chairman Lee conducted most of the trip's schedule privately and quietly sought new business opportunities for the new year.

Chairman Lee Jae-yong: "We have to work hard in the new year"

On that day, Chairman Lee returned around 12:40 PM through the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center. Earlier, he had departed for Hanoi on the 21st to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Samsung R&D Center in Vietnam held on the 23rd.

Before leaving the building and moving to his vehicle, Chairman Lee briefly answered questions from the press. When asked about the outcomes of his Southeast Asia trip, he replied, "I hope only good things happen next year." He also told the press, "I work hard until the very end of the year."

Regarding his management plans for the new year, he briefly responded, "We have to work hard." He did not answer any further questions and left immediately after boarding his vehicle.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is visiting Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV) near Hanoi, Vietnam, to inspect the smartphone manufacturing plant. / Photo by Samsung Electronics

Oversaw the Beginning and Completion of the Vietnam Samsung R&D Center

During this business trip, Chairman Lee visited the Vietnam Samsung R&D Center located in the THT district of Hanoi, Vietnam, which is the first local and largest comprehensive research institute in Southeast Asia. He attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the facility in 2020 and also participated in the inauguration ceremony held two years later.

The Vietnam Samsung R&D Center is a global strategic hub where Samsung conducts comprehensive R&D on smart devices and network technologies. Chairman Lee emphasized that this facility "can contribute not only to strengthening Vietnam's industrial competitiveness but also to enhancing Korea-Vietnam friendly cooperation."

On the day before the inauguration ceremony, the 22nd, Chairman Lee visited Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV) and Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV) near Hanoi to inspect the smartphone factory and the telecommunications equipment production plant, respectively. He reviewed business management strategies and encouraged employees.

From the inauguration ceremony until his return, the seven-day schedule was conducted entirely privately. The business community believes that Chairman Lee moved from Vietnam to Malaysia to visit the Samsung SDI plant. It is reported that he also inspected major Southeast Asian hubs, including Singapore.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong (third from the left) is visiting the construction site of the UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant project, carried out by Samsung C&T, and taking a commemorative photo with employees. / Photo by Samsung Electronics

From South America and Europe to the UAE... JY Embarks on Trips to Various Countries

Chairman Lee’s Southeast Asia trip, which lasted over a week, became possible as many courts nationwide entered their winter recess from the 26th to the 6th of next month. Chairman Lee has been attending trials every Thursday related to allegations of unfair merger between Samsung Electronics and Cheil Industries.

After being reinstated by a special pardon on Liberation Day in August, he embarked on various trips to strengthen his global network and seek future business opportunities. During the Chuseok holiday in September, he visited Samsung Electronics and Samsung Engineering factories in Mexico and later traveled to the United Kingdom.

This month, he visited the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant construction site in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Before visiting the nuclear power plant, he met with heads of Samsung C&T, Samsung Engineering, and Samsung Electronics’ Middle East regional offices to discuss business status and mid-to-long-term strategies.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Chairman Lee will attend the economic community’s New Year gathering on the 2nd of next month. There is also speculation that he may participate in the Davos Forum (WEF) held in Switzerland next month alongside other major group heads to promote the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo.

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