Samsung boss returns to work

By Kim Yoo-chul

Lee Kun-hee

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee returned to work Tuesday after almost two months of absence.

The last time the chairman was in the Samsung building was June 4. Lee returned to Seoul, Saturday, after a 37-day trip to Japan and France.

The company said that the chairman arrived at the main Samsung building in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, at around 8:40 a.m., Tuesday.

Then he was briefed about business plans and strategies for the second half by Samsung Corporate Office Head Choi Gee-sung, mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun and other top management in his room on the 42nd floor, according to Samsung officials.

During the briefing, Lee got reports regarding sales of its smartphones, details of upcoming products and marketing strategies.

Samsung is waiting for a final order from the United States International Trade Committee for an import ban on some Apple products that infringed on Samsung patents.

“After the briefings, the chairman had a luncheon with top Samsung management and left the building around 1:50 p.m.,” said a Samsung spokesman.

Unlike his previous appearances to the building, Chairman Lee did not talk to the local media that waited for him for over two hours in hopes that he might offer a hint of what Samsung has in store.

“Our chairman is using an elevator and directly goes to his working room as he feels pressure from media attention,” a senior executive at one of Samsung Group affiliates told The Korea Times.