Harvard Graduate Lee Jae-yong Delivers 'Classic' English Speech
Jung Eui-sun Strong in 'Practical' English, Easily Handles Lengthy English Discussions
Son Heung-min Self-Taught English After Transfer to Tottenham
After his inauguration, U.S. President Joe Biden, on the afternoon of the 20th, visited Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and after delivering a speech, shook hands with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung, Intern Reporter Song Hyun-do] What do Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham Hotspur), the top scorer of the English Premier League (EPL), have in common? It is their fluent English skills that almost seem like those of native speakers. Vice Chairman Lee and Chairman Chung delivered outstanding English speeches during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Korea from the 20th to the 22nd, while Son has showcased his English skills through multiple interviews. Although they all possess near-native English proficiency, their styles vary greatly.
◆Lee Jae-yong's 'Textbook' English, a Harvard Business School Graduate
On the 20th, when the Korean and U.S. leaders toured the Samsung Semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, Vice Chairman Lee took the podium and delivered a 1 minute and 37 seconds welcome speech in English. Starting with the evening greeting "Good evening," he emphasized, "Semiconductors are the engine of everything, driving growth and creating many opportunities," adding, "This kind of innovation stems from the dedication and efforts of Samsung employees in Korea, the U.S., and worldwide."
This is reportedly the first time Vice Chairman Lee's English speech has been made public. Netizens who watched the video, as well as Samsung employees on the anonymous workplace community 'Blind,' expressed surprise, saying, "It's the first time hearing the Vice Chairman speak English," and "At first, I thought it was the interpreter speaking. It sounds like a native speaker."
Vice Chairman Lee earned a master's degree in business administration from Keio University Graduate School of Business in 1995, and immediately afterward went to study in the U.S., enrolling in the MBA program at Harvard University, a prestigious university in Massachusetts on the East Coast. It is presumed that he seriously engaged with English during the approximately five years from then until completing his doctoral coursework in business administration around 2000. Notably, while studying at Harvard, he built connections with prominent figures in U.S. politics and business, including former U.S. President George W. Bush, who was a fellow graduate student. This indicates his proficiency in 'refined' conversations with English-speaking elites.
In 2019, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong met with former U.S. President George W. Bush (left). The two, both alumni of Harvard Business School, are said to have built a friendship early on. / Photo by Samsung Electronics
Consequently, some say Vice Chairman Lee's English is like a model answer?'textbook' style. Mr. A, an asset management professional who requested anonymity and has business experience in the U.S., Singapore, and the U.K., said, "(Vice Chairman Lee) appeared comfortable while delivering the speech. That suggests he is accustomed to discussing business matters in English," adding, "He deliberately used simple and concise words to avoid making the speech lengthy. It's the textbook example of a business speech."
Journalist Mr. B, who works for a regional U.S. media outlet, was asked by this publication to evaluate Vice Chairman Lee's English speech. He said, "He clearly explained Samsung Electronics' impact and history in the U.S. and its future goals," and added, "He seemed to pause briefly to read the speech, but overall, his English skills are quite impressive."
◆Chung Eui-sun Strong in 'Practical' English... 50-Minute Meeting with U.S. President Biden
If Vice Chairman Lee's English is textbook, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun excels in 'practical' English. On the morning of the 22nd, he met with President Biden at the Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel and directly announced Hyundai's investment plans for U.S. factories in English. The meeting lasted about 50 minutes, from 11:00 a.m. to around 11:50 a.m.
President Biden, listening attentively to Chairman Chung's explanation, repeatedly said, "Thank you for choosing the U.S. We will never disappoint you," expressing his gratitude.
While Vice Chairman Lee studied on the U.S. East Coast, Chairman Chung lived in San Francisco, a representative major city on the West Coast. He went abroad to study in 1995 and completed an MBA program at the University of San Francisco Graduate School of Business, earning his master's degree in 1997. Afterwards, he worked at the New York branch of Itochu Corporation until 1999. During this period, he appears to have become proficient in the English used by business practitioners.
President Biden, after finishing his speech at a meeting with Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, held on the morning of the 22nd at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where he was staying during his visit to Korea, places his hand on Chairman Chung's shoulder as he departs. / Photo by Yonhap News
Journalist Mr. B, who watched Chairman Chung's speech video, said, "Personally, I think Chairman Chung speaks English better than Vice Chairman Lee," adding, "His accent is not heavy nor does he speak like a native American, but his words are clearly and accurately heard." A simultaneous interpreter affiliated with a major domestic corporation also said, "While I can't say his English is 100% native-level, his pronunciation is excellent," and added, "This content is polished enough to be used as teaching material in graduate schools for interpretation and translation."
Chairman Chung has regularly advised those around him and company employees to 'hone their English skills.' During the Tokyo Olympics last year, he encouraged Kim Je-deok, a male national archer, saying, "Study English hard for your future." Within the company, he emphasized 'Global Hyundai' and even promoted English tests for middle managers.
◆Son Heung-min Learned English 'Self-Taught' in London
Unlike the other two who received elite education, Son is an example of learning English 'by diving in headfirst.' In fact, Son reportedly first encountered English after arriving in London when he transferred to Tottenham in 2015. He had debuted professionally after joining the youth team of Hamburg in Germany in 2008 and had played for German clubs since. Therefore, in the early days of living in London, his vocabulary was limited and his pronunciation retained a German accent.
An interview with Son Heung-min in 2016. At the time, he was not familiar with English, so he only used basic vocabulary. / Photo by YouTube video capture
In interviews with British media during his first year at Tottenham in 2016, Son was seen hesitating with "um" during answers, and his vocabulary was basic, including words like "happy," "good," and "very."
However, Son's English skills appear to have improved remarkably over the past seven years. In recent interviews, he has shown natural conversational ability, joking with teammates and expressing gratitude to fans. Among fans, there are compliments that his English is much easier to understand than that of teammate Harry Kane (29, Tottenham), who speaks with a strong Essex accent (Essex is an eastern region of England). In 2019, Son even showcased his English knowledge by introducing London working-class slang on Tottenham's official YouTube channel.
Son's rapid English improvement is said to have been aided by his teammates and friends. In an appearance on the English education YouTube channel 'Korean Billy,' he explained, "When I first came to England, I actually didn't know English well. I took lessons for six months, but the best way for me to learn English was talking with my teammates," adding, "Even if I said something wrong, the players and friends told me how to say it and pronounce it correctly."
He also shared his thoughts, saying, "Learning other languages, including English, is always helpful," and "Even after I retire as a football player, I think I can do something with my English skills. Also, learning the local language is a way to show respect to that country."
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