Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong will convene presidents across all Samsung Group affiliates early next year for the first New Year's dinner to discuss business strategy. They are expected to review the global market environment, including artificial intelligence (AI), and share New Year business plans and management direction.
According to the business community on the 14th, Lee is expected to invite the presidents of all Samsung affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Samsung Display, to a "New Year presidents' dinner" at the Seocho office in Seoul early in the New Year. Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun, head of the DS division at Samsung Electronics, President Roh Tae-Moon, head of the DX division at Samsung Electronics, President Choi Joo-sun of Samsung SDI, President Chang Duck-hyun of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and President Lee Cheong of Samsung Display are expected to attend, have dinner with Lee, and discuss New Year business strategies.
With CES 2026, the world's largest IT and home appliance trade show, opening on Jan. 6 (local time), the presidents' meeting is expected to be held beforehand. Until 2014, Samsung held the "New Year presidents' dinner" to coincide with the birthday (Jan. 9) of the late former Chairman Lee Kun-hee.
In 2015–2016, after the former chairman fell ill, the presidents instead attended a "new executives' dinner" held in mid-January to encourage newly appointed group executives together with Chairman Lee Jae-yong (then vice chairman). After that, rather than gathering all group presidents, the company held New Year roundtables by smaller groups such as electronics, finance, and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), and after Lee took office as chairman in Oct. 2022, the New Year presidents' dinner resumed in 2023.
At the previous dinner, attendees watched a video featuring the former chairman's key remarks and management strategies, and Lee was said to have emphasized leading market trends and technological leadership. Lee's message shared at a seminar for executives in Mar., "When management first reflects thoroughly and acts boldly with a 'do-or-die' resolve," was also reported to have been delivered at the presidents' dinner early this year.
With the "Samsung crisis theory" raised early this year easing recently as the semiconductor business recovers, attention is focusing on what message Lee will deliver at next year's meeting. The business community expects Lee to urge them not to let down their guard and to go all out. After the presidents' meeting, Lee is expected to continue on-site management by visiting domestic and overseas business sites.
Meanwhile, presidents of major Samsung affiliates are also scheduled to gather for a separate meeting at the Samsung Human Resources Development Center in Yongin at the end of this month.