Former Samsung Electronics chairman dies at 90

By Yoon Sung-won

Kang Jin-ku, the former chairman of Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, died Saturday of a chronic ailment at the age of 90.

Kang has been considered a business leader who played a big role in founding the semiconductor business of Samsung Electronics, which currently is the world’s top memory chipmaker.

“As the former chairman of Samsung Electronics, Kang was a pioneer who strengthened the basis of the company to become the world’s leader in semiconductors, displays, mobile phones, televisions and home appliances,” the electronics maker said in a statement.

According to Samsung, Kang also stressed the importance of technology independence in the manufacturing industry at a time when Samsung lagged behind foreign competitors.

Kang was born in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on March 1, 1927, and majored in electronics at Seoul National University. He worked at multiple media companies including KBS and the JoongAng Ilbo.

Kang was also a founding member of TBC, Korea’s first privately established television broadcaster started in 1960. His role there was to produce all broadcast equipment using domestic technology.

Kang started his career at Samsung in 1973, joining Samsung Electronics as vice president. Backed by Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, Kang gained an early promotion to become president within a year.

Afterwards, he contributed much to prepare for the launch of Samsung’s semiconductor business while working at multiple group affiliates including Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electro-Mechanics.

When Samsung opened its hall of fame in June 1995, Kang was the first inductee. In a forward to Kang’s memoir in 1996, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee praised him as the “biggest contributor who led Samsung Electronics to become what it is today.”

Outside Samsung, the nation’s electronics industry recognized Kang as a leading figure.

He led the Electronics Industries Association of Korea, the Korea Electronics Association and the Korea Electronics Technology Institute. In 2006, he was also named as one of Korea’s top 60 engineers by Seoul National University and the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. He was also recognized globally and won honors from the Belgian and Portuguese governments.

Kang resigned from the chairmanship of Samsung Electro-Mechanics on Dec. 31, 2000, due to his ailing health.