Lee Jae-yong to Visit Japan for 5 to 6 Days
Expanding Global Management Activities After China Trip
Possible 'Stargate' Talks with Chairman Masayoshi Son
Potential for Semiconductor Materials, Parts, and Technology Cooperation
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has embarked on a business trip to Japan. Attention is focused on the possibility of contact with major Japanese companies, including SoftBank, amid the United States' restructuring of trade order.
According to industry sources on the 2nd, a Samsung Electronics chartered plane departed from Seoul Gimpo Airport the previous afternoon and arrived in Osaka, Japan, and another chartered plane was confirmed to have landed in Tokyo that morning. Both of the two chartered planes mainly used by Samsung Electronics headed to Japan.
Chairman Lee said, meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister, at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jongno-gu, Seoul the day before, "I was in China for a week last week," and "Today, I will go to Japan for 5 to 6 days."
Since being acquitted in the appeal trial on charges of unfair merger and accounting fraud in February, Chairman Lee has been actively pursuing global management activities.
From the 22nd to the 28th of last month, he visited Xiaomi's electric vehicle factory in Beijing, BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen, and attended a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is returning to Korea through the Business Aviation Center at Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul on the 28th. 2025.3.28. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
This visit to Japan also draws attention to the possibility of contact with key local business figures. Chairman Lee accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol on his 2023 visit to Japan and attended a business roundtable hosted by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Federation of Korean Industries. In October of the same year, he presided over the 30th anniversary exchange meeting of 'LJF,' a gathering of Samsung's Japanese partner companies.
Focus is also on whether he will meet with SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son. In February, Chairman Lee held a trilateral meeting with visiting Chairman Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Korea, reportedly discussing cooperation plans in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Subsequently, on the 31st of last month, OpenAI raised $40 billion (approximately 58 trillion won) from major global investors including SoftBank.
As global competition over AI leadership intensifies, Chairman Son is interpreted to be continuing strategic moves in line with strengthening the US-centered ecosystem. This investment is also seen as containing a 'political message' considering not only securing leadership in the US AI ecosystem but also the possibility of the return of the Donald Trump administration.
Chairman Lee's trip to Japan is also viewed as a move aligned with the global AI and semiconductor supply chain restructuring trend. Samsung Electronics recently established the semiconductor packaging technology research center 'Advanced Packaging Lab (APL)' in Japan and is strengthening cooperation with Japanese material, parts, and equipment companies.
Accordingly, there is speculation about possible contact with related companies during this trip. Especially if a meeting with Chairman Son takes place, discussions may be held regarding the background of SoftBank's investment in US-based OpenAI and future cooperation plans within the AI ecosystem among Korea, the US, and Japan.
Samsung Electronics stated regarding Chairman Lee's schedule in Japan, "We cannot confirm."
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