Samsung frontman focuses on new biz

Samsung frontman focuses on new biz

Samsung Group Vice Chairman Kim Soon-taek, chief of the group’s overall control office, answers to reporters at the group headquarters in southern Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times By Kim Yoo-chul Kim Soon-taek, newly appointed right-hand man of Samsung Group owner Lee Kun-hee, said Monday that his job was to develop and foster new growth engines for Korea’s largest group. ``My job as the new controlling tower is about finding new growth engines so as for Samsung to better prepare for its future as a viable business entity,” Kim told a group of reporters at the group headquarters in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Kim, a vice chairman who was responsible for new businesses, was appointed to take overall control of the group’s affairs in lieu of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee. Kim’s clarification came amid speculation that Korea’s largest exporter is reviving its Strategy Planning Office, which was abolished two years ago. The defunct apparatus, which was under the control of Lee’s right-hand man Lee Hak-soo, was under fire for putting the group under Lee’s tight grip and promoting the chairman’s interest However, Kim denied this, saying that its purpose is not to control but plan ahead. Kim’s remarks echoed that by Samsung spokesman Rhee In-yong, who said earlier said the roles and responsibilities of the division will ``totally be different from the predecessor.” ``Samsung will drive up the efforts for an early restoration of the decision-making tower with experts in bio- and solar-related backgrounds,’’ said Kim, adding the setting processes have been in very near for finalization. Samsung is planning to invest 23 trillion won for five new growth engines, a move seen to lower its heavy dependence on memory chips and flat-screens for its income. Samsung is the world’s top vendor in the components used in almost all digital devices. Six trillion won will be invested for solar cells, while the group’s battery-focused unit Samsung SDI is set to invest 5.4 trillion won. Its light-emitting diode (LED) business will get 8.6 trillion won in investment. ``I fell huge responsibility to lead the new division and I know high expectations by the society and Samsung employees,’’ said Kim, adding the independent unit will guarantee better communication rather than pushing for top-down decision schemes. Samsung is trying hard to put ``creativeness’’ on its key finished products amid the industries’ shift for soft-power, though some analysts are still suspecting Kim’s main role is to ensure a smoother management transfer to the junior Lee. The vice chairman Kim has significantly helped Samsung get a firm lead in the next-generation display ― organic LED or OLED and lay a solid groundwork for an expansion of rechargeable batteries amid governments’ aggressive push for ``green initiatives.’’ 삼성 김순택 부회장, ``신수종 사업에 주력하겠다’’  삼성그룹의 새 사령탑을 맡은 삼성전자 김순택 부회장은 새로 만들어지질 컨트롤 타워가 신수종, 신사업 추진에 중점을 둘 것이라고 밝혔다. 김 부회장은 22일 오전 서초동 삼성전자 사옥으로 출근하는 길에 기자들과 만나 ``내 역할은 그룹의 신성장 동력을 적극적으로 찾아 삼성그룹이 보다 나은 미래를 대비할 수 있게 하는 것’’이라고 말했다. 김 부회장은 이어 ``과거보다는 미래 대비, 신수종, 신사업 중심, 우리 조직 내부도 그렇고 사회도 바라는 것이 소통, 상생인 것으로 본다’’며 전략기획실 부활에 따른 부정적 이미지에서도 탈피하겠다는 의지를 나타냈다. 그룹내 2인자로 불리며 10여년 간 이건희 현 삼성전자 회장의 분신 역할을 해 온 이학수 고문을 사실상 2선으로 퇴진시키면서 삼성 측은 ``문책’’ 이라는 단어까지 사용하면서 과거 전략기획실의 어두운 이미지를 벗겠다는 의지를 확고히 한 셈이다. 김순택 부회장은 그룹내에서 `미래’ 를 준비해 온 책임자로 평가받고 있다. 삼성SDI의 전신이었던 삼성전관의 `먹거리’ 를 브라운관에서 유기발광다이오드 (AMOLED)와 2차전지로 과감히 바꾸는 등 미래를 내다보는 안목이 뛰어나다는 평가를 받고 있는 인물이다. 이건희 회장은 신수종 사업에 23조원을 쏟아붓겠다고 밝힌 바 있다. 이 중 6조원이 태양광 사업에, 5조4천억원이 배터리에 투자될 예정이다. 김 부회장은 소위 `이재용 체재’ 가 가속화되고 있지 않냐는 기자들의 질문에 ``그렇지 않다’’ 며 ``그룹의 차세대 먹거리를 맡게 되어 무거운 책임감을 느낀다’’고 말했다.

yckim@koreatimes.co.kr