When asked about his 450 trillion won investment plan by Lee Jae-yong, he risked his life

First public mention after the announcement of the investment plan
Solving with urgency to discover growth engines
Present blueprints for system semiconductor, 6G, AI, etc.
In the past, it has been said that “challenges shine in crisis”

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong said, “I don’t know the number and I’m just risking my life” in relation to the 450 trillion-won large-scale investment plan over the next five years.

On the 25th, Vice Chairman Lee met with the Korea Economic Daily before attending the small and medium-sized business meeting held on the lawn in front of the President’s Office in Yongsan, saying, “I will only look ahead.” This is the first time Vice Chairman Lee has made any comments to the media after announcing the 450 trillion won investment plan.

Vice Chairman Lee’s remarks are interpreted as expressing a sense of crisis that Samsung’s corporate competitiveness could be shaken if it fails to lay the foundation for the future industry through an investment of 450 trillion won.

President Yoon Seok-yeol shakes hands with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong after handprinting at the 2022 Korean Small Business Contest held on the lawn in front of the presidential office in Yongsan on the 25th.  President's Office Photo Reporters

President Yoon Seok-yeol shakes hands with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong after handprinting at the 2022 Korean Small Business Contest held on the lawn in front of the presidential office in Yongsan on the 25th. President’s Office Photo Reporters

On the 24th, Samsung announced its plan to invest 450 trillion won in the next five years through an announcement titled ‘Samsung’s Future Preparation for Dynamic Innovative Growth’. This is an increase of 120 trillion won from the 330 trillion won Samsung has invested in the past five years, and the average annual investment has increased by more than 30%.

Through this investment, Samsung presented the goal of not only maintaining the super-gap in memory semiconductors, but also increasing its influence in the system semiconductor market and preparing future food such as bio, artificial intelligence (AI), and 6G.

First of all, Samsung plans to surpass Taiwan’s TSMC and achieve the No. 1 position in the system semiconductor market by 2030. Although Samsung is leading the memory semiconductor market, it is in a position to catch up with TSMC in the system semiconductor area. According to the results of a survey conducted by Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce in March last year, Samsung Electronics’ foundry market share was 18.3% and TSMC’s 52.1% in the fourth quarter of last year.

In the bio field, it also made an aggressive investment and presented the goal of realizing the ‘second semiconductor myth’. In the mid- to long-term, it was decided to establish a business structure centered on biologics contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and similar (replicated drugs).

In the case of AI, through global AI centers in seven regions around the world, the company plans to conduct research on prior technologies while recruiting talents and nurturing professional manpower. For next-generation communications such as 6G, it has decided to lead global standardization by preoccupying core technologies.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is on the podium to greet President Yoon Seok-yeol and US President Joe Biden, who visited Samsung Electronics' semiconductor factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do on the 20th.  yunhap news

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is on the podium to greet President Yoon Seok-yeol and US President Joe Biden, who visited Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do on the 20th. yunhap news

Vice Chairman Lee’s remarks today seem to be an extension of his conviction that he has emphasized the spirit of challenge in the face of crisis. Vice Chairman Lee met with executives and staff at Samsung Electronics’ Suwon Plant C Lab meeting in July 2020 and said, “The future starts with a dream. Let’s take on a challenge without getting tired.” At the design strategy meeting in November of the same year, he said, “Let’s constantly challenge for the future. The challenge shines brighter in the midst of a crisis.”

In November of last year, during the first anniversary of the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, he commemorated his father, Chairman Lee, saying, “He made Samsung what it is today by nurturing possibilities with a ‘daring challenge’ that does not give in to limitations.”

Park Jae-geun, a professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Hanyang University, said, “As the system semiconductor market is growing, Samsung has no choice but to expand R&D and manpower for system semiconductors in order to maintain its current position. It seems to be a remark to the effect that a determined will is required from the general manager to the staff.”

Correspondent Kim In-yup [email protected]

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