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| Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong speaks to reporters as he arrives at Gimpo International Airport, Friday. Yonhap |
By Lee Kyung-min
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to Korea after a 10-day visit to Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, its key partner countries in Southeast Asia, according to the firm and market watchers, Friday. He left Korea, Dec. 21.
This was his fourth overseas trip after visits to Europe in June, Central and South America as well as the United Kingdom in September and the Middle East in early December of 2022. The purpose of the latest trip was to pinpoint the next sustainable growth drivers of the firm in the decades to come.
Upon arriving at Gimpo International Airport early Friday, Lee declined to elaborate when reporters asked him about his business outlook for 2023, and only said, "I will try my best. I appreciate your hard work."
Lee attended a ceremony to celebrate the opening of Samsung's research and development (R&D) center in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dec. 23.
"The research center in Vietnam will fortify not only the competitiveness of the country's industries, but also bilateral cooperation between Korea and Vietnam," he said at the ceremony.
The center, which is the first of its type to be established by a foreign entity in Vietnam, will employ over 2,200 employees specializing in smart devices, network technologies and software development.
Lee went to a nearby display and cell phone manufacturing facility near Hanoi, in an effort to boost the morale of local employees. Also reviewed at the visit were the firm's mid- to long-term growth strategies.
He then visited the overseas operations of Samsung SDI, the battery manufacturing affiliate of Samsung Group, and Singapore.
Whether and how effective he would be in promoting Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, will draw keen market attention. The event will be held from Jan. 16 to 20 (local time).
Among local corporate heavyweights to attend the annual meeting are SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.
The five leaders of the conglomerates will attend an event organized jointly by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and KBIZ, representing the country's small- and medium-sized enterprises, Jan. 2.
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