Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Samsung chairman warns against complacency despite improving numbers
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, speaks to President Lee Jae Myung during a meeting at the former presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Nov. 16, 2025. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seog
By Nam Hyun-woo
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong warned against complacency in a message to Samsung Group executives, despite the tech giant’s expected record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025.
According to conglomerate officials, Sunday, Samsung Group has held seminar sessions for more than 2,000 executives since last week. During the sessions, the group screened a video clip citing a message from the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee that “this is not the time to become complacent just because the numbers have improved.”
The clip was first shown earlier this month at a dinner gathering of Samsung affiliate heads hosted by Lee Jae-yong, and has since been screened during the executive seminar sessions.
It remains unclear whether the clip includes direct remarks from the current chairman, but conglomerate officials said it should be interpreted as reflecting the chairman’s message, given that it was presented in settings attended by him.
The video also cited remarks made by the former chairman in 2007 that Korea was sandwiched between Japan’s technological strength and China’s price competitiveness, adding that while the competitive landscape has shifted to rivalry between the United States and China, Korea remains stuck in a similar squeeze.
The message came amid expectations of strong earnings at Samsung Electronics. The tech giant had struggled in its semiconductor business from 2023 through the first half of 2025, but signaled a rebound by forecasting 93 trillion won ($63.95 billion) in sales and 20 trillion won in operating profit in its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of last year.
The caution is interpreted as reflecting the fact that the company’s earnings have improved significantly as the global DRAM market enters an unprecedented upcycle driven by strong demand from artificial intelligence services.
The turnaround appears to have been driven more by improving market conditions than by major technological breakthroughs at the company, while weakening profitability in other core businesses, including home appliances and smartphones, highlights the risks of complacency.
Against this backdrop, Samsung Electronics will announce its fourth quarter and annual financial results during an earnings call on Thursday. Its chipmaking rival SK hynix will also hold its earnings call on the same day.