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Samsung Electronics Appoints New Head of Key Business Support Office

Samsung Electronics has appointed HK Park as the new head of its Business Support Office, the company’s central decision-making body that serves as a key coordination hub for chairman Jay Y. Lee and Samsung Group’s vast network of affiliates.

The unit, recently upgraded from a task force into a full-fledged office, functions as a strategic control tower across South Korea’s largest conglomerate, whose businesses span semiconductors, smartphones, shipbuilding, and pharmaceuticals.

Park, a former chief financial officer (CFO) at Samsung Electronics, joined the Business Support Task Force a year ago before being promoted to lead it. His appointment marks the first major leadership reshuffle since the office’s formation, following Samsung’s 2017 decision to dissolve its previous corporate nerve center after it became embroiled in a high-profile graft scandal.

Park replaces Chung Hyun-ho, who will now serve as an advisor to Chairman Jay Y. Lee. According to Samsung, Vice Chairman Chung, 65, “expressed his intention to step down from management to focus on nurturing future leaders, as Samsung’s business has been back on track.”

The company also said it has no plans to expand personnel at the Business Support Office at this time.

The leadership change underscores Samsung’s efforts to streamline its internal governance while maintaining close coordination across its many divisions — from memory chips and displays to consumer electronics — at a time of intense global competition and rapid AI-driven transformation.

South Korean Prosecutors to Appeal Ruling in Samsung Chief’s Case

South Korean prosecutors have announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court following an appeals court’s ruling that found Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee not guilty of charges related to a 2015 merger. The case revolves around an $8 billion merger between two Samsung affiliates, which prosecutors argued was designed to solidify Lee’s control over the tech giant. However, the Seoul High Court ruled on February 3 that all charges should be dismissed, stating that the merger did not cause financial harm to minority shareholders.

Lee, who has long been entangled in legal challenges, including those stemming from this merger, denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he never intended to deceive investors for personal gain. The decision follows a history of legal troubles for Lee, including his 18-month imprisonment on bribery charges in connection with a scandal that led to the 2017 impeachment of then-President Park Geun-hye.

Despite the favorable ruling, Lee continues to face ongoing legal risks as Samsung deals with increasing competition and sluggish stock performance. Samsung has declined to comment on the recent developments.