Samsung Master Craftsman Meets Lee Jae-yong: "Technical Talent, an Indispensable Core Competitiveness"

Meeting with 15 'Samsung Masters' at Seocho Headquarters
"The Future Depends on Securing and Nurturing Technical Talent
Following Next-Generation Technology R&D Review, Continuing 'Technology-Focused Approach'"

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong held a meeting with 15 '2024 Samsung Masters' at the Samsung Electronics Seocho Building in Seoul on the 16th, stating, "Technical talent is an indispensable core competitiveness," and added, "The future depends on securing and nurturing technical talent." He also pledged, "We will create an environment where technical talent can freely challenge and innovate."

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is taking a photo after a meeting with 'Samsung Masters' at the Seocho headquarters on the 16th. Photo by Samsung Electronics

Following his first management move of the new year by inspecting the next-generation communication technology research and development (R&D) site, he emphasized the importance of developing ultra-differentiated technologies for future preemption and nurturing outstanding talent by taking care of core technical personnel.

Samsung selects masters as technical experts who have worked for over 20 years in fields such as manufacturing technology, mold, and quality, contributing to product competitiveness improvement and business performance, to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness through in-house technical expert development. At this year's opening ceremony, 15 people were selected as masters, the largest number since the system was established in 2019.

At this meeting, Chairman Lee listened to the masters' growth process as technical experts and their difficulties, and exchanged opinions on ways to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and the importance of nurturing future technical talent. At the end of the meeting, he encouraged the attendees again by saying, "See you on the field. Please raise the juniors well."

Earlier, on the 10th, Chairman Lee visited the Samsung Research Seoul R&D Campus to check the trends and response plans for next-generation communication technologies, including 6G, continuing his technology-focused approach from the beginning of the year. Samsung Research emphasized, "Our survival and future depend on acquiring new technologies. The more difficult the situation, the more proactive R&D and unwavering investment are needed," and urged, "Let's challenge more boldly and fiercely."

Before his inauguration as chairman in October 2022, Chairman Lee vowed, "We must invest in technologies that do not exist in the world. Our survival depends on future technologies," and since then, he has continued to emphasize the importance of technology, stating, "Although the situation is difficult, there must be no wavering in talent development and future technology investment."

Based on this management philosophy, Samsung provides equal opportunities to technical talent regardless of academic background, gender, or nationality, and appoints core personnel according to ability. Many employees have joined as high school graduates and risen to become Samsung Masters.

Samsung is also continuing efforts to nurture and expand the base of future technical talent. It established the Samsung Skills Olympics Secretariat and has consecutively sponsored the International Skills Olympics eight times since the 2007 Shizuoka competition in Japan, with plans to sponsor this year's event in Lyon, France. Domestically, Samsung has sponsored the National Skills Competition for 17 consecutive years since 2007 and supports the training expenses of the national teams participating in the International Skills Olympics.

At the closing ceremony of the 'International Skills Olympics Special Competition Goyang' in October 2022, Chairman Lee expressed gratitude, saying, "The reason South Korea has developed this much is thanks to young technical talent."

In addition, Samsung affiliates including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Samsung SDI annually specially recruit about 100 outstanding technical talents from the National Skills Competition. To date, about 1,500 talents from the National Skills Competition have been hired, among whom 200 hold Presidential Awards or master technician certificates.

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