[Column] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Says "You Can Tell by Looking at the Product"

[Asia Economy Reporter Sunmi Park] "You can tell by looking at the product. (Even if the appearance looks similar) you have to see how the inside is different and how consumers feel while using the product."

Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, did not show any signs of wariness toward China's home appliance technology at CES 2023, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition held in Las Vegas, USA, from the 5th to the 8th (local time). Rather, he expressed confidence with the implication that "Samsung's technology is the best in the world." Even without putting new products front and center, everyone knows that Samsung is the best.

However, among reporters who toured the large exhibition halls set up right next to Samsung Electronics by two Chinese companies, TCL and Hisense, many reacted with "They are quite threatening." Especially, both TCL and Hisense seemed determined not to fall behind Samsung and LG, who dominate the global TV market, by prominently displaying premium products and emphasizing that there is little difference compared to Korean products and technology.

There was a sense of stubbornness from Chinese companies trying to break the formula that cheap LCD TVs with poor picture quality are Chinese-made, while cutting-edge, ultra-large, ultra-high-definition OLED TVs are Korean-made. TCL strongly showcased a 98-inch ultra-large Micro LED and an 8K inkjet printing OLED TV, and Hisense also unveiled its independently developed ULED 110-inch 8K TV. Hisense even set up a separate booth called "Connect Life" to counter Samsung Electronics' "Hyperconnect" concept.

Although the number of Chinese companies participating in this CES was 480, fewer than Korea's 550, it was enough to feel that they are challenging Korean technology and rapidly closing the gap. It was almost a relief that many flagship Chinese companies such as Huawei and Xiaomi could not participate due to the intensifying US-China conflict and the spread of COVID-19.

If the will of the people in China, with a population of over 1.4 billion, to use domestically produced products supported by technology is added, Korean companies face a significant threat. The rapid rise of Huawei, which quickly took away Samsung's position in China where Samsung phones were once the best, is a painful experience Samsung must remember. The warning from China at this CES is threatening enough that Samsung cannot be complacent with the thought of "we are ahead in technology."

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