"Imaginative Management, Not Predetermined Answers... Lee Kun-hee's Management Reflects the Spirit of the Times"

'30th Anniversary of the New Management Declaration' Academic Conference
Analysis from Six Perspectives Including Technology and Strategy
"Strategic Theorist and Integrative Thinker"
"Achievements Comparable to the Medici Family"

An international academic conference reflecting on the 'New Management Declaration' made by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee 30 years ago was held on the 18th, marking the third anniversary of his passing (on the 25th). The New Management Declaration, made 30 years ago in 1993 by Chairman Lee, conveyed the philosophy of 'quality management,' emphasizing that drastically reducing defective products is essential to becoming a world-class company. It became famous for his remark, "Let's change everything except my wife and children."

The Korean Academy of Management, sponsored by Samsung Global Research, held the 'Chairman Lee Kun-hee 3rd Anniversary Memorial and Samsung New Management 30th Anniversary International Academic Conference' at the Samsung Seocho Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Within Samsung, this conference is interpreted as both a memorial to Chairman Lee and a call to re-examine his philosophy and continue Samsung's unique 'super-gap' management. Samsung stated the purpose of the conference was "to re-examine the late chairman's leadership, social contributions, and Samsung's New Management."

On the 18th, attendees are watching a video of Chairman Lee Kun-hee at the '3rd Anniversary Memorial for Chairman Lee Kun-hee and the 30th Anniversary of Samsung New Management International Academic Conference' hosted by the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration, held at the Samsung Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

About 300 people attended the conference, including Kim Jae-gu, president of the Korean Academy of Management, Kim Hwang-sik, chairman of the Ho-Am Foundation, domestic and international scholars, and executives from Samsung affiliates. In his commemorative speech, Chairman Kim Hwang-sik said, "Chairman Lee aimed to fundamentally solve national and social problems centered on corporate talent and technology," adding, "I hope this re-examination of the New Management spirit will serve as a milestone for preparing the future of Korean companies."

Invited speakers analyzed Samsung's New Management from six perspectives: technology, strategy, talent, coexistence, future generations, and implications for emerging countries, and shared opinions on how to apply the New Management Declaration made 30 years ago. In the first part of the conference, Roger Martin, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, Canada, and Kim Sang-geun, Professor at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of Theology, delivered keynote speeches titled "What is the Essence of Lee Kun-hee’s Management?" and "The Significance of the KH Legacy," respectively. In the second part, lectures were given by Scott Stern, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rita McGrath, Professor at Columbia University, Patrick Wright, Professor at the University of South Carolina, and Kim Tae-wan, Professor of Business Ethics at Carnegie Mellon University.

Professor Martin evaluated Chairman Lee as both a strategy theorist and an integrative thinker. He explained that Chairman Lee managed Samsung based on imagination that things and the world can change, rather than a 'pre-determined answer' mindset that the nature of things does not change. He broke the traditional management framework of answer orientation, consensus seeking, and decision-making by choosing only one among several alternatives.

On the 18th, guests and speakers are taking a commemorative photo at the 'International Academic Conference Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Samsung's New Management and the 3rd Memorial of Chairman Lee Kun-hee,' hosted by the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration at the Samsung Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Professor Kim Sang-geun introduced how Chairman Lee’s social contributions in non-management fields such as culture have contributed to Korean society. The late chairman’s family donated 23,000 pieces of artwork to national institutions and others in 2021. They also donated 1 trillion won to overcome infectious diseases, childhood cancer, and rare diseases. Professor Kim argued that a businessperson who pays a lot of taxes is an 'entrepreneur,' a businessperson who provides many jobs is a 'large enterprise leader,' and if they also have the aspect of a philanthropist based on goodwill, they embody the 'spirit of the times.' He added, "Chairman Lee is the spirit of the times in Korea, comparable to the Medici family who led the Renaissance in Florence, Italy."

At the conference, pianist Baek Gun-woo performed in memory of Chairman Lee’s third anniversary. Chairman Lee supported Baek’s overseas performances. Pianist Baek received the Samsung Ho-Am Prize in Arts in 2000.

On the 18th, attendees are watching a video of Chairman Lee Kun-hee at the "3rd Anniversary Memorial for Chairman Lee Kun-hee and the 30th Anniversary of Samsung New Management International Academic Conference," hosted by the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration at the Samsung Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

At the end of last month, Samsung began creating a memorial atmosphere for the third anniversary by re-examining the guide dog school project led by Chairman Lee. The business community is paying close attention to what message Samsung will deliver ahead of the third anniversary and the first anniversary of the chairman’s inauguration.

On the 19th, a memorial concert for Chairman Lee will be held at the Samsung Electronics Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The youngest recipient of the Samsung Ho-Am Prize, pianist Cho Seong-jin, will perform. It is reported that Samsung’s chairman Lee Jae-yong, Chairman Lee’s wife Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Leeum Museum of Art, and other Samsung family members are likely to attend. Presidents of Samsung affiliates are also expected to attend.

On the 25th, a simple memorial service for Chairman Lee’s third anniversary will be held at his family burial site in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Former and current Samsung presidents are expected to attend to pay their respects. At the first anniversary in 2021, only family members gathered quietly at the burial site in Suwon. At last year’s second anniversary, about 300 Samsung Group executives and Kim Seung-yeon, chairman of Hanwha Group, visited the burial site to honor the late chairman along with the family.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong will mark his first anniversary on the 27th. Samsung does not plan to hold a separate event for the chairman’s first anniversary.

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