By Kim Yoo-chul
Chaebol leader Lee Kun-hee’s children will remain in their current roles for now.
Lee, chairman of the flagship Samsung Electronics, told reporters Thursday, there will be “no promotions,” when asked of his only son Jae-yong, who is currently president, and his sister Seo-hyun, executive vice president at Cheil Industries.
The senior Lee made the remarks on his way to attend the annual award ceremony for outstanding employees at the company’s headquarters in southern Seoul.
Speculation had been rife that the junior Lee would take on the higher role of Samsung Electronics vice chairman.
Meanwhile he has been shaping Samsung’s parts-supply deal with Apple for the next few years in direct meetings with Apple chief executive Tim Cook.
The world’s biggest maker of chips, flat screens, televisions and smartphones, the Samsung chaebol is planning to invest more in facility investments in the year ahead.
“Samsung is paying more attention to monitoring the economic situation in developed markets such as Europe. At the same time Samsung will invest more next year,’’ said Lee.
Earlier, Korean online news provider E-Daily reported Samsung has set aside a record 38 trillion won for investments next year, especially targeting AMOLED screens and non-memory industries.