[Chairman Lee Kun-hee Passes Away] Japanese Media Praises Him as "Representative Korean Businessman"... Highlights His Ties with Japan During His Lifetime

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Japanese media have evaluated Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Group, as a representative Korean entrepreneur who grew Samsung into a world-class company through aggressive investment. They also highlighted the late chairman's ties with Japan during his lifetime.

On the 25th, Asahi Shimbun reported the news of Chairman Lee's passing, noting that when he took office as chairman in 1987, Samsung Electronics did not have any world-class products, but through bold investments, it became a global leader in semiconductors and mobile phones.

Nihon Keizai Shimbun stated that from the time the late chairman took office until he practically handed over management rights to Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's total sales increased 25-fold from 13.5 trillion won to 334 trillion won, and he is regarded as the pioneer of Samsung's revival.

Public broadcaster NHK reported, "With strong leadership, he led the group for a long time and grew the core Samsung Electronics into one of the world's leading companies in semiconductors and smartphones, known as a charismatic leader representing Korea."

Japanese media also covered Chairman Lee Kun-hee's connections with Japan. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Lee had experience living in Japan as a boy and graduated from Waseda University, a prestigious private university in Japan, in 1965.

It was also reported that Chairman Lee respected Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., the predecessor of Panasonic, and was well-versed in Japanese companies' quality improvement and management techniques.