Chairman Lee Jaeyong Heads to Milan... Resuming "Olympic Management" After 2 Years

Scheduled Visit to the 2026 Winter Olympics Venues
Potential Engagements with Politicians, Sports Figures, and Global Corporations

Lee Jaeyong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, will continue his global management activities by visiting the venues of the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics.

Lee Jaeyong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, returned to Seoul on the afternoon of August 7, 2024, after a business trip to the Paris Olympics, arriving via the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC) in Gangseo District, and answered reporters' questions. Photo by Jo Yongjun

According to the business community on the 5th, Chairman Lee departed for Milan, Italy, on the morning of the same day via the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC). This marks his return to the Olympic stage two years after his visit to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

During his stay in Italy, he is expected to watch Winter Olympic events and engage extensively with politicians, sports figures, and executives of global companies from around the world. In particular, there is talk that he may meet with leaders of key industries such as semiconductors, IT, automobiles, and aerospace and defense.

He is also expected to meet Kim Jaeyul, president of the International Skating Union (ISU), who was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board on the 4th (local time). The two showed a close relationship during the Paris Olympics as well, watching events together and cheering for Korean athletes.

Samsung Electronics is the only Korean company among the 15 companies that are TOP (The Olympic Partner) global sponsors of the IOC. Since signing the contract in 1997, it has been serving as an official sponsor starting with the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics. This follows the late Chairman Lee Kunhee's "brand management" policy of "raising the value of the brand as an intangible asset to a world-class level."

In fact, Samsung achieved significant marketing results at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It provided participating athletes with the "Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition" (a total of more than 17,000 units), and drew attention as athletes used the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition to take photos themselves during the medal ceremonies.