"'Gamgituhon' Lee Jae-yong Returns Home After Expo Bid... 'Everyone Is Working Hard'"

Returning Home After a Week-Long Business Trip to Europe
No Specific Comments on Questions Like 'Executive Greetings'

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to Korea after eight days of promotional activities for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid and said, "Everyone is working hard."

Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics.
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 27th, Chairman Lee returned through the Gimpo Business Aviation Center in Seoul in the afternoon and briefly responded to reporters' questions about the atmosphere and prospects of the Busan Expo bid. He said, "I caught a cold," and shared his impressions of the trip with a hoarse voice.

Earlier, Chairman Lee accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol's economic delegation, attending the UK state banquet on the 21st (local time) and the Korea-UK Business Forum on the 22nd. He then moved to Paris, France, where he supported the final promotional efforts for the Busan Expo bid on the 23rd and 24th.

The host city for the 2030 Expo will be decided by a vote of 182 member countries at the General Assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) in Paris, France, on the 28th. Busan is competing against Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Rome, Italy.

Samsung Electronics Announces 2024 Regular Executive Personnel Changes

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is giving a toast at a luncheon hosted by the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) representatives at a hotel in Paris on the 24th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics announced its 2024 regular executive personnel changes earlier on the same day before Chairman Lee's return.

The personnel changes were made about a week earlier than usual, which is analyzed as an effort to accelerate preparations for next year. This regular executive personnel change involved a total of five personnel, including two promotions to president and three changes in assigned duties.

Yong Seok-woo, Vice President of the Visual Display Business Division of Samsung Electronics' DX Division, and Kim Won-kyung, Vice President and Head of the Global Public Affairs (GPA) Team of the Management Support Office of the DX Division, were promoted to president. Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman and Head of the DX Division, and Kyung Kye-hyun, Head of the DS Division, remained in their positions.

In particular, Samsung Electronics also announced the establishment of the 'Future Business Planning Group,' an organization at the vice chairman level. The Future Business Planning Group is expected to play a role in discovering future growth items from a long-term perspective.

Chairman Lee did not respond to questions related to the 2024 regular executive personnel changes announced before his return. It is reported that Kim Won-kyung, who was promoted to president in this personnel change and leads Samsung Electronics' Global Public Affairs (GPA) Team, accompanied Chairman Lee on his trip to Paris.

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