Memorial service marks the sixth anniversary of former Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s death; Lee Jae-yong pays his respects on his return from a business trip to the UAE
- Input
- 2026-10-23 16:28:37
- Updated
- 2026-10-23 16:28:37
Lee bowed twice in front of the deceased’s grave, then paid his respects with a silent bow. He then received a cup of liquor, walked once around the grave, and poured out the liquor.
Attention focused on Lee as he went straight to the family burial site on his return from a business trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and spent about 10 minutes alone paying his respects in front of the former chairman’s grave, unlike last year, when he was accompanied by family members.
About 50 senior executives visited the family burial site together to pay their respects.
At around 9:38 a.m., five vans carrying Samsung’s current senior executives arrived one after another at the family burial site. They included Jun Young-hyun, vice chairman and co-CEO of Samsung Electronics and head of its semiconductor division, and Roh Tae-moon, president and co-CEO of Samsung Electronics and head of its finished-products division.
At around 11:04 a.m., Lee Seo-hyun, president of Samsung C&T, and Kim Jae-yeol, president of Samsung Global Research, also visited the family burial site and left after staying for about 15 minutes. The other family members are reportedly expected to pay their respects separately according to their own schedules.
The sixth anniversary of the former chairman’s death falls on the 25th. The memorial service was held two days early because the anniversary falls on a Sunday.
Lee and the senior executives went to Samsung’s Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, where they had lunch together.
Samsung Electronics has ushered in an era of 100 trillion won in quarterly operating profit amid an unprecedented semiconductor boom. But with uncertainties at home and abroad continuing—including market skepticism about the earnings of global tech giants that ushered in the age of artificial intelligence (AI)—attention is focused on what message Lee will deliver to the senior executives today.
After the 2022 memorial service, Lee stressed to the senior executives, “Now is the time to step forward more boldly and take on challenges,” and, “The more difficult and challenging the times, the more we need to prepare in advance and build our capabilities.”
A concert commemorating the sixth anniversary of the former chairman’s death will be held on the 28th in the concert hall at Samsung Electronics’ Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
Lee, Honorary Director Hong, President Lee Boo-jin, President Lee Seo-hyun and other members of Samsung’s controlling family may attend. Samsung executives and employees are also expected to attend.
As in previous years, Lee is expected to visit the Human Resources Development Center before the concert to encourage newly appointed executives and outstanding employees, and to have dinner with newly appointed executives and key management attending the event.
After his father, founding chairman Lee Byung-chul, died in 1987, the former chairman became Samsung Group’s second chairman. In 1993, he drove innovation across the group through the “New Management Initiative,” epitomized by the words, “Change everything except your wife and children,” and elevated Samsung to the ranks of global companies.
He collapsed from a heart attack at his home in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in May 2014 and remained bedridden for about six years and five months before passing away on October 25, 2020, at the age of 78.
[email protected] Park So-hyun Reporter