[Edaily Reporter Song Jae-min] Lee Chan-hee, Chairman of Samsung’s Compliance Oversight Committee, stated regarding the recent proposals for semiconductor investments in the Honam and Chungcheong regions, “We will monitor the situation closely to ensure we are not swayed by political logic.”

Chairman Lee made these remarks to reporters prior to the Compliance Oversight Committee’s regular meeting held on the 16th at the Samsung Life Insurance Seocho Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, in response to a question about the possibility of Samsung Electronics investing in semiconductor facilities outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

He said, "If this leads to actual investment, we expect it to become a matter for discussion by the Compliance Oversight Committee, just as with the issues we have handled so far."

He added, “In that process, the Compliance Oversight Committee will closely monitor the situation to ensure that the decision is not swayed by political logic without considering the company’s sustainability and the impact on the national economy.”

In line with the government’s recent policy on balanced national development, calls for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to invest in semiconductor facilities in the Honam and Chungcheong regions have been raised repeatedly, primarily by political circles and local governments. Amid ongoing discussions about expanding semiconductor production hubs and AI infrastructure to non-metropolitan areas, Chairman Lee’s public statement on the matter is interpreted as making it clear that economic viability and industrial competitiveness must be prioritized in future investment discussions.

Chairman Lee also addressed labor-management relations at Samsung Electronics. Regarding the recent conclusion of wage and collective bargaining negotiations, he remarked, “To climb a high mountain, one must pass through many peaks,” adding, “This time, we have crossed the first peak, and much experience and mutual communication will be needed before labor-management relations are fully established.”

He added, “Starting next year, given the public’s interest following this year’s Samsung labor-management negotiations, I believe we should proceed with greater attention to those aspects.”

Regarding the recently controversial “n% of operating profit” performance bonus payment method, he stated, “I believe this was implemented after sufficient legal review within Samsung,” and added, “The Compliance Oversight Committee has not yet identified any specific issues regarding that matter.”

Regarding the allegations of front-running involving Rainbow Robotics, he said, “The Compliance Oversight Committee has not yet looked into this matter,” adding, “If it becomes an issue in the future and falls under the jurisdiction of the Compliance Oversight Committee, we will investigate it thoroughly.”