Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee met with a delegation of Japanese House of Councillors members visiting South Korea to discuss the outlook for the artificial intelligence chip business and possible areas of cooperation.
Lee joined the delegation for a luncheon at an undisclosed location in Seoul on the 14th, according to business sources on the 16th. Kim Won-kyong, president of Samsung Electronics' Global Public Affairs office, also attended from the company.
The Japanese side included Hiraki Daisaku, chairman of the Komeito party's Diet affairs committee in the upper house; Fukuyama Tetsuro, vice president of the House of Councillors; Kawai Takanori, secretary-general of the Democratic Party for the People in the upper house; Umemura Mizuho, deputy secretary-general of the Sanseito party in the upper house; and Mizushima Koichi, Japan's ambassador to South Korea.
Lee's attendance had not been on the original schedule, and he adjusted his calendar to take part in person, sources said.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Hiraki said the luncheon with Samsung Electronics executives had not been part of the original itinerary and that Lee made a surprise appearance.
He said he asked about the outlook for a chip business growing on the back of AI adoption, Samsung Electronics' company-wide strategy going forward, areas for cooperation with Japan, and plans for developing and securing talent.
Hiraki said he posed his questions from an analyst's perspective and that Lee answered them seriously. The substance of Lee's responses was not disclosed.
After the luncheon with Samsung Electronics, the delegation visited SK Group's headquarters in Seorin-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, where they exchanged views on the chip business outlook and the potential for AI technology development.
The group then traveled to Yeouido in Seoul to meet Ryu Jin, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, for talks on Korea-Japan economic cooperation centered on semiconductors, AI and energy.
