Lee Seo-hyun, right in the front row, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s youngest daughter, is escorted by the company’s television chief Yoon Boo-keun during her visit to the Samsung booth at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Thursday. She is Executive Vice President of Cheil Industries, a Samsung affiliate.
/ Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
TV chief aims over 50 million sales, SK denies deal
By Kim Yoo-chul
LAS VEGAS ― For Lee Seo-hyun, the youngest daughter of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, the ongoing technology fair in Las Vegas isn’t a familiar scenario.
She is known for her fashion sense and knowledge of fashion-related industries and it’s believed she will appear at Samsung’s booth with her father, brother Lee Jay-yong and sister Lee Boo-jin.
Seo-hyun graduated from Seoul Arts High School and then Parsons The New School for Design in New York. Despite her rather unique background inside the owner family of technology-driven Samsung, she is trying to boost her international profile.
``I already saw them,’’ Seo-hyun said during a tour of booths for Chinese companies guided by Samsung Electronics Consumer Electronics Division Chief Yoon Boo-keun.
The remarks were regarded as criticism of copycat activities by Chinese TV majors, according to Samsung officials.
This is a major change for Seo-hyun as Lee’s daughters had remained tight-lipped when they accompanied him to the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) two years ago.
``This is very rare. Visiting an official event by herself means that Seo-hyun has increased her influence in Samsung,’’ said an unnamed company executive, asking not to be identified.
Seo-hyun is an Executive Vice President of Cheil Industries, while her husband Kim Jae-yeol has been promoted to president of Samsung Engineering.
``Samsung televisions are attractive with a slim design and I’m impressed by the technological advancement,’’ he told Yoon.
Seo-hyun visited LG Electronics’ stand and watched 3D content wearing the firm’s in-house passive glasses and then moved on to Sony. When asked by The Korea Times about her feelings of the 35-minute guided tour, Seo-hyun said, ``All Samsung products are looking good.’’
She is expected to re-visit the Samsung booth with her siblings on Friday (KST), according to company officials.
``There are some chances that the chairman will announce new business roadmaps for Samsung but with a big picture,’’ said a senior spokesman.
SK Telecom chief executive Ha Sung-min also appeared at the Samsung booth after Seo-hyun had left. He denied that SK Telecom has agreed with Samsung on additional content-based deals.
``We haven’t had any business talks with Samsung,’’ an official from SK Telecom said although it is looking to revive its falling business momentum especially in software-related areas.
Bullish outlook for TV
Right after Seo-hyun’s brief tour, Yoon told reporters that his firm is aiming to sell over 50 million flat-screen televisions this year.
``Samsung sold 43 million flat-screen TVs, last year, however, we are aiming to increase sales by more than 15 percent compared to the previous year,’’ said Yoon in a lunch meeting with South Korean media at a Korean restaurant near the Las Vegas Convention Center, the main venue for the show.
Samsung and LG have both exhibited 55-inch OLED TVs but using different technology. Yoon stressed that Samsung will further widen market gap with rivals in all categories ― size, Web-based TV and 3D TV.
``For the rivalry with LG Electronics, I can say it is `beyond comparison’,’’ he said. Yoon is believed to be Samsung CEO Choi’s top lieutenant.
OLED TVs are thinner and better in terms of picture quality compared to LCD. Samsung and LG, the world’s top two TV makers, are expected to make their ``second round’’ for more ``first-mover advantages’’ in the lucrative OLED TV segment.
Last year, the two companies were involved in heated verbal fights over 3D-technology. Samsung initially grabbing the market lead using its battery-powered glasses. LG was late arriving, however, its cheaper film-based technology has gained more attention, upsetting Samsung.
Yoon said the world’s biggest TV maker has been set to compete with Apple even in televisions. ``We expect Apple to release the `Apple TV’ sometime in the latter half of this year or in the first half of next year.’’
Apple representatives at CES declined to comments though they’ve not denied that possibility.
``Because Samsung has been leading the global market for Internet-enabled televisions, we’ve prepared various possible scenarios,’’ Yoon said, clarifying that Samsung can’t unveil the details any deal with Google deal for TVs except for an official announcement.
Google representatives at the show declined to comment.
``Samsung’s platform for Internet-based TVs is based on a LiNUX system, though Google’s Android software is developed only for smartphones. When you compare Android and Samsung’s own platform used in televisions, we are far better in terms of functionality.’’
Speaking to the media, Yoon confirmed market rumors that Samsung will sell low-priced TVs, though he admitted worries over a possible decline of profitability.
``Samsung’s strategy is very simple. If there is a market, then we go for it.’’
The firm is mulling the possibility to re-enter the Japanese TV market. ``The total TV demand in Japan decreased to 8 million from a previous 20 million in and that’s why we are hesitating on a final decision.’’
