Samsung Compliance Chairman: "Operations Matter More Than the Name for the Business Support Office"

Executive Appointments Finalized
"Prioritizing Technology Talent Is Only Natural"

Lee Chanhee, Chairman of the Samsung Compliance Committee, stated regarding the Business Support Office that "operations are more important than the name," and emphasized that the committee will closely monitor it from a compliance perspective. With the Business Support Task Force (TF) becoming a permanent organization after eight years since its launch, some have suggested this marks the revival of a control tower within the group. However, Samsung has drawn a clear line on this interpretation.

On the afternoon of the 25th, prior to the regular meeting of the third Samsung Compliance Committee held at Samsung Life Seocho Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Chairman Lee met with reporters and said, "It is still unclear how the Business Support Office will be operated," adding, "We will continue to pay close attention to see if there are any issues from a compliance standpoint."

Lee Chanhee, Chairman of the Samsung Compliance Committee, is attending the regular meeting of the Samsung Compliance Committee held at Samsung Life Seocho Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 26th and responding to questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 7th, Samsung Electronics reorganized the Business Support TF into the Business Support Office and appointed President Park Hakkyu as the new head of the office. Jung Hyunho, who had been leading the Business Support TF, will step down from the management frontlines and serve as an advisor. Some have speculated that since the Business Support TF, which was established in November 2017 after the dissolution of the Future Strategy Office, has now become a formal and permanent organization, this essentially signals the revival of the group's control tower.

In response, Samsung Electronics has firmly stated that this has nothing to do with a control tower.

Chairman Lee has repeatedly called for the reconstruction of a group control tower, stating it is necessary to enhance corporate competitiveness. He has also emphasized, "The Compliance Committee will do its utmost to prevent the control tower from becoming an organization solely for top management or one that poses the risk of collusion with political circles."

Regarding the recent executive appointments at Samsung Electronics, Chairman Lee commented, "I believe that, due to Chairman Lee Jae-yong's legal risks, Samsung has so far been unable to actively pursue technological advancement," adding, "It is only natural that Samsung is now appointing more technology experts."

Samsung Electronics has established a 'two-CEO system' centered on Vice Chairman Jun Younghyun, head of the Device Solutions (DS) division, and President Roh Taemoon, head of the Device eXperience (DX) division, and has promoted numerous future talents in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and semiconductors.

Additionally, Chairman Lee addressed the recent controversy over the leak of employee personal information at Samsung Biologics and other affiliates, stating, "We intend to closely examine what issues may exist," and, "We will discuss within the committee whether to address this as an agenda item in the future." Recently, while Samsung Biologics was conducting company-wide improvement work, there was an incident where confidential information on performance evaluations, promotions, and some personal data was exposed to employees who did not have the proper authorization.

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