Chairperson Lee Chan-hee of the Samsung Compliance Committee (Compliance Committee) met with reporters on the 17th ahead of the regular meeting of the third-term Compliance Committee held at the Samsung Life Insurance headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul. He said, “Unexpected variables have arisen that we had never anticipated,” adding, “My goal for next year is to offer advice on how Samsung can grow within the framework of compliance.” This emphasized the role of the Compliance Committee amid increasing uncertainties due to the impeachment crisis and the incoming second administration of President Trump.
He noted that a shift in mindset is necessary to overcome Samsung's crisis. Chairperson Lee stated, “Many people will agree that Samsung needs to change,” and added, “It is a time when a major shift in thinking is necessary, similar to when the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee made the declaration of new management in 1993.”
In addition, Chairperson Lee emphasized, “I believe Samsung will diversify in various ways, and the Compliance Committee will thoroughly carry out compliance monitoring to ensure that there are no incidents of stepping outside the framework of compliance during this process of change.”
At the end of last month, Chairperson Lee expressed his opinions regarding the newly established management diagnosis office by Samsung Global Research (formerly Samsung Economic Research Institute). In response to a question about whether he views the management diagnosis office as acting as Samsung's control tower, he stated, “I still do not know what specific work the management diagnosis office is engaging in, and it is not included in the compliance monitoring committee.”
Chairperson Lee also stated, “Although the conditions do not allow for direct compliance monitoring, if the management diagnosis office serves as a control tower for all of Samsung, I will examine whether it operates within the framework of compliance.” He added, “Since President Choi Yun-ho is someone who has already been recognized for his ability to perform tasks and drive progress to some extent, I anticipate that he will play a role in bringing about changes at Samsung.”
The management diagnosis office is an executive-level organization that functions in management diagnosis and consulting for affiliates, with Choi Yun-ho, former CEO of Samsung SDI, serving as the head of the management diagnosis office. Earlier, Chairperson Lee had repeatedly emphasized the importance of rebuilding the control tower in various meetings with the press, including the publication of the Compliance Committee's annual report for 2023.
Regarding the Samsung Global Strategy Meeting that began this day, Chairperson Lee said, “Since we do not exchange the contents of the discussions at the global strategy meeting in advance, there is nothing for the Compliance Committee to comment on (regarding the meeting),” while adding, “I believe there will be some rigorous efforts made.” Samsung Electronics is conducting a three-day global strategy meeting where executives from both domestic and international divisions gather to formulate next year's business strategy.
Chairperson Lee commented on the matter of meeting with Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics, saying, “I have been communicating with him directly and indirectly on various issues, expressing diverse opinions,” and added, “There are various ways to communicate in different settings, so please judge accordingly.”