Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Samsung leader carries out 'filed management' amid virus outbreak
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, inspects display panels during his visit to Samsung Display's plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and Samsung group leader, Lee Jae-yong visited its display manufacturing facilities in Asan, South Chungcheong Province to highlight Samsung's group-wide efforts to respond to the ongoing crisis posed by COVID-19, Samsung said, Thursday.
Specifically, the vice chairman inspected Samsung Display's quantum dot technology-powered display panels, in which the consumer electronics giant is betting big to retain technological competitiveness as the world's leading display maker.
Lee's visit to the plant in the regional city was aimed at ensuring the implementation of Samsung's future business strategy as the global economy is facing growing uncertainty as the virus spreads, Samsung said.
“Unexpected internal and external variables are putting pressure on Samsung but we should not stop,” Lee said during his visit, according to a statement from Samsung. “We need wisdom that can help us look beyond the crisis.”
The vice chairman was accompanied by Kim Ki-nam, vice chairman and CEO of Samsung's device solutions division; Samsung Display CEO Lee Dong-hoon; and Kwak Jin-oh, head of the Display Research Center of Samsung Display.
Since the virus outbreak, the Samsung leader has been strengthening his on-site management to offer encouragement to the firm's staff to overcome the crisis.
Earlier this month, Lee visited Samsung's smartphone plant in Gumi, a southeastern city which was hit severely by the coronavirus. Samsung had to shut down the Gumi plant for 3 days after employees there tested positive for the virus.
Samsung has been working on improving its capability in quantum dot display technology while the company has been struggling to hold its place in the highly competitive display market due to the rise of Chinese rivals. Quantum dot is a next-generation display technology which refers to a semiconductor nanostructure that improves display's brightness, increases visibility and lowers power consumption.