Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong resumed on-site management by visiting the Semes Cheonan plant on the 30th.
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong resumed on-site management four days after the Prosecutors' Investigation Deliberation Committee.
On the afternoon of the 30th, Vice Chairman Lee visited SEMES, a semiconductor subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, at the Cheonan plant to tour the semiconductor and display manufacturing equipment production factory and review mid- to long-term business strategies.
Vice Chairman Lee discussed with the management ▲trends in the semiconductor and display manufacturing equipment industry ▲plans to strengthen facility competitiveness ▲mid- to long-term business strategies, then inspected the manufacturing equipment production factory and encouraged the employees.
Accompanying him on site were Samsung executives responsible for the components and equipment business, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam, Samsung Display President Lee Dong-hoon, Device Solutions (DS) Division Head of Management Support Office Park Hak-gyu, Semiconductor Research Center Director Kang Ho-kyu, and SEMES CEO Kang Chang-jin.
SEMES, established by Samsung Electronics in 1993, is a specialized company producing semiconductor and display manufacturing equipment, employing about 2,000 workers across two domestic plants in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and Cheonan, Chungcheongbuk-do. It also operates overseas subsidiaries in Austin, USA, and Xi'an, China.
At the site, Vice Chairman Lee emphasized, "We cannot know the end of uncertainty. The road ahead is long," adding, "We must not get tired. If we stop, there is no future."
Earlier, on the 26th, the Prosecutors' Investigation Deliberation Committee recommended suspension of investigation and non-prosecution by a vote of 10 to 3 regarding allegations of management succession, significantly reducing Samsung's management risks, prompting Vice Chairman Lee to accelerate on-site management.
This move by Vice Chairman Lee is interpreted as an effort to strengthen the domestic industrial ecosystem by fostering the materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) sector, which has been pointed out as a weakness in the domestic semiconductor and display industry.
In July last year, when uncertainties in SoBuJang supply increased due to Japan's export restrictions, Vice Chairman Lee personally traveled to Japan and convened an emergency meeting of presidents to discuss short-term measures and mid- to long-term response strategies.
At that time, he also emphasized, "Let's develop capabilities to lead the market without wavering," urging the presidents to prepare contingency plans and engage in scenario management.
Meanwhile, since holding consecutive meetings with Samsung Electronics semiconductor and wireless communication (IM) presidents on the 15th, Vice Chairman Lee has continued activities to overcome crises and prepare for the future by discussing mid- to long-term strategies at the semiconductor research center on the 19th and the Consumer Electronics (CE) division on the 23rd.
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