Leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Lee Jae-myung met with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Thursday, requesting the conglomerate to play a key role in driving South Korea’s economic growth.
Rep. Lee visited the Seoul campus of the Samsung Software Academy for Youth in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, where he met with Samsung’s Lee and other executives to discuss ways to bolster youth employment and nurture skilled workers in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
SSAFY, established in 2018, is a joint program between Samsung and the Ministry of Employment and Labor aimed at training software developers through 1,600 hours of intensive education in a year.
The meeting marks the first encounter between the two since 2021. Observers view the gathering as part of the liberal leader's efforts to court centrist and business-friendly voters ahead of a potential early presidential race. In recent weeks, Lee has been meeting with various business leaders and focusing on economic policy. The Constitutional Court is set to rule soon on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment; if upheld, a snap election would follow.
“Companies must do well for the country to thrive. If Samsung thrives, those who invested in Samsung will do well,” Lee Jae-myung told Lee Jae-yong at the meeting. “Although the economic situation is very tough, I believe we will overcome it with our capabilities and determination.”
Rep. Lee stressed the importance of strengthening the global competitiveness of large corporations and asked Samsung to continue playing a leading role in developing the economy.
Lee Jae-yong welcomed Rep. Lee and the Democratic Party lawmakers, stressing that the SSAFY program reflects Samsung’s commitment to investing in the future of South Korean youth.
"Our principle is to invest in the future of young people, who represent the future of our country," said Lee Jae-yong.
Following the greetings, the two held a closed-door meeting and also met with SAFFY students to discuss various topics, including AI.
While there had been expectations that the two would discuss contentious issues such as the proposed Semiconductor Special Act — which would provide direct subsidies to chipmakers and exempt them from a national cap on working hours — no such topics were discussed, according to Cho Sueng-rae, the Democratic Party’s senior spokesperson.
Cho told reporters that Rep. Lee stressed the need for active government investment in sectors that require large-scale funding in the future during the meeting.
sahn@heraldcorp.com
