[SAMSUNG REPORT-1] Samsung has 20 presidents guiding the business

Samsung Electronics has 20 presidents, and above them are two vice chairmen — Han Jong-hee and Chung Hyun-ho — and two chairmen — Kim Ki-nam and Lee Jae-yong.

Clockwise from left: Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman Chung Hyun-ho, President Kyung Kye-hyun, President Roh Tae-moon, President Lee Young-hee, President Choi Si-young, President Park Yong-in, President Lee Jung-bae, President Park Hark-kyu

Samsung Electronics has 20 presidents, and above them are two vice chairmen — Han Jong-hee and Chung Hyun-ho — and two chairmen — Kim Ki-nam and Lee Jae-yong.

They are 0.02 percent of the company's workforce and make key management and business decisions for the electronics manufacturer.

For decades the total has remained the same, with a number of presidents being replaced every year. Seven new presidents were appointed last year and seven left their positions.

In Korea, these executives have godlike status, sometimes called the "stars of stars."

They are also immensely busy, running the company's many divisions.

During a burial ceremony in 2020 for former Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Lee Jae-yong requested in 2020 that presidents spread sand over the coffin, a ritual typically for close family members.

“The presidents might spend more time with Chairman Lee than their family members,” Lee Jae-yong was reported to have said.

The former chairman was said to be reclusive as he tried to avoid public attention. His management style was to give the CEOs and presidents a good deal of autonomy, although the patriarch was known for being meticulous in selecting the top-level executives.

“He often asked about something that is not directly related to the businesses,” said a former Samsung Electronics president who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“I think that is because he let us take on the lead in operating business while he was focused on drawing a bigger picture,” he said.

The company appointed its first female president, Lee Young-hee, last year, giving her responsibility over the Global Marketing Office of the Device eXperience (DX) division. Device eXperience includes smartphones and consumer electronics.

The average age of the presidents stands at 57.5, while the average of president and above-level executives comes at 57.9.

The youngest president is Roh Tae-moon, 54, who heads smartphone business. He earned the title at 50. Roh also holds the records as the youngest vice president and executive vice president.

Roh spearheaded the success of the Galaxy S smartphones, although he recently came under fire for the underperformance of the latest Galaxy S devices.

The oldest is Chairman Kim Ki-nam, 64, head of the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology. Kim is credited with expanding Samsung’s market share in the semiconductor business.

For those who started their career at Samsung Electronics, it took an average of 28.8 years to become the president. They worked for the company for an average of 32.5 years.

The majority of them earned engineering degrees, playing an integral role in filing patents and developing key technologies.

Twelve of the 24 who are presidents or above graduated from Seoul National University, and six from Yonsei University. The rest holds Bachelor's degrees from Perdue University, Harvard University, KAIST, Pusan National University, Inha University and Hanyang University.

Half of them majored in electrical engineering, and four others materials engineering or control and instrumentation engineering. Out of 16 with bachelor's degree in engineering, 15 went on to earn Master’s or doctoral degrees.

With the solid engineering background, it is common that a Samsung president holds dozens of patents.

“Samsung Electronics presidents are engineering experts whose knowledge level is comparable to that of doctoral degree holders with great leadership,” said Lee Kyung-mook, professor at the Graduate School of Business of Seoul National University and author of a book titled “Samsung Way.”

BY LEE DONG-HYUN, CHOI EUN-KYUNG, LEE HEE-KWON, PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]