"Global 5th Samsung, Thanks to Japan" Report... Japanese Netizens Respond "Have You Forgotten to Be Grateful?"

Japanese Media 'Daily Shincho' Reports Chairman Lee's Obituary on 29th
"Samsung, 5th in Brand Value, Cannot Be Excluded from Japan"
"Chairman Lee Studied Abroad in Tokyo from 5th Grade"

On the 29th (local time), the Japanese media outlet 'Daily Shincho' reported the news of the passing of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, pointing out that Samsung Electronics achieved high growth by learning management strategies from Japanese companies. / Photo by Internet Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A Japanese media outlet criticized Korean media while reporting the obituary of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. It claimed that Korean media did not report that Chairman Lee learned the secret to growing Samsung Electronics into a global giant from Japan.

The Japanese media 'Daily Shincho' reported on the 29th (local time), "Korean media continuously praise Chairman Lee's business acumen, but they never mentioned that he learned and grew up in Japan."

The outlet emphasized, "When talking about Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who led Samsung Electronics to become the 5th largest global brand in IT, Japan can never be left out."

According to the media, Chairman Lee studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan, starting from the 5th grade of elementary school in 1953. This was because his father, Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, instructed him to "learn advanced studies in Japan." The media also claimed that Chairman Lee was shocked when he witnessed the high quality of Japanese home appliances such as televisions, washing machines, and refrigerators at that time.

On the morning of the 28th, citizens at Seoul Station are watching news related to the funeral of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee on a TV screen. / Photo by Yonhap News

The media cited the so-called 'defective product burning ceremony' as an example of Samsung learning management strategies from Japanese companies.

Previously, in 1995, Samsung held a 'burning ceremony' where about 150,000 of its products, including mobile phones, keypads, and facsimiles, were piled up and destroyed by fire. This event was interpreted as Chairman Lee's determination toward quality management.

Regarding this, the media explained, "Three days before the burning ceremony, on June 4th, Chairman Lee called Tamio Fukuda, then Samsung Electronics design advisor (currently honorary professor at Kyoto Institute of Technology), to discuss countermeasures." It added, "Advisor Fukuda submitted the 'Fukuda Report,' which covered the problems of Samsung Electronics products. Samsung's quality policy began in earnest from this point."

The media also claimed that Chairman Lee himself mentioned the need to learn a lot from Japanese companies. According to the media, in April 2010, Chairman Lee met with Japanese economic leaders and said, "Although Samsung has improved in recent years, there is still much to learn from Japanese companies," and "There are many areas where Korean and Japanese companies can cooperate."

Meanwhile, as of 5 p.m. on the day, the article had received more than 370 comments on Yahoo Japan. One Japanese netizen emphasized, "It is well known that Japanese capital and technology have been the main pillars of Korea's development," and added, "Such things must never happen again in the future." Another netizen pointed out, "Samsung is now globally famous, but it was completed by learning Japanese technology and know-how," and asked, "Are these people who have even forgotten to be thankful?"