Korean tech leaders take versatile roles from salesman to trade analyst

LAS VEGAS -- The world's largest tech show CES 2025 once again highlighted technological advancements that could reshape the future, while also providing Korean tech giants a platform to address looming trade concerns under the incoming US administration.
During the four-day event, which kicked off on Jan. 7, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics focused on demonstrating their latest AI-powered home automation ecosystems and robotics visions. SK Group, Korea's second-largest conglomerate, took the chance to sell its cutting-edge technology, led by Chairman Chey Tae-won.
Amid growing concerns that US President-elect Donald Trump could reintroduce "safeguard" tariffs on washers imposed during his first term, alongside his proposed 10-20 percent blanket tariffs on all imports, Korean home appliance giants expressed confidence in their ability to minimize potential impacts.
"Samsung operates many factories worldwide, and our production is not concentrated in a single location," Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee said during a press conference at CES 2025 on Jan. 7.
"We excel in global supply chain management, from component sourcing and manufacturing to delivering products to customers. By integrating AI technology into the system, I believe we can absorb the potential impact and manage the challenges without significant issues."
LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan said the company has already prepared a "playbook" to respond to potential US policy changes.
"When President Trump assumes office and imposes tariffs or similar measures, we are prepared to adapt," Cho said at a press conference in Las Vegas, Wednesday. "We have our own playbook that outlines specific methods for various scenarios."
In the playbook, LG set plans to change the manufacturing bases for producing certain products, and swing production -- producing the same product in multiple manufacturing plants around the world to reduce risks, the CEO said. Manufacturing products in advance and efficiently managing the inventory is also a key method.
In a recent NBC interview, Trump claimed that the "safeguard" tariffs he imposed on Korean washing machines during his first term created thousands of jobs in the US.
In 2018, Trump implemented a 20 percent tariff on the first 1.2 million units of washers imported from Korea, and a 50 percent tariff on additional ones. The program, aimed at bolstering domestic brands such as Whirlpool, ended in February 2023.
At the time, Samsung accelerated the opening of its Newberry factory in South Carolina, while LG built a washing machine plant in Clarksville Tennessee. Both companies are now reviewing expanded production at these facilities to include other electronic appliances.

The companies also unveiled their robotics development outlook following Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang's keynote speech, which emphasized the potential of humanoids.
Samsung confirmed it plans to tap into the humanoids market once it collects enough data and reaches a certain level in its three focus areas of manufacturing, retail and kitchen with robots.
"We have started investing and are working for technological advancement, while also pursuing mergers and acquisitions for growth," the Samsung CEO said.
LG, which is developing robotics in the food and beverage sector and logistics, also underscored how robotics is a "future that is certainly happening."
"In our vision for a 'labor-free home,' humanoids can be considered as the ultimate goal," LG Chief Technology Officer Kim Byong-hoon said.

SK Group took CES 2025 as a chance to connect with high-value customers, with the chairman leading the effort.
Chey Tae-won, the only chairman who attended the tech show among Korea's top four conglomerates, met with Nvidia's Huang to discuss their collaboration in cutting-edge AI chips and share ideas on potential partnership in humanoids technology.
“Until now, SK hynix’s development pace (for high bandwidth memory chips) has lagged behind Nvidia’s, and it has been challenging to meet their requests. Recently, though, I think we can say that our development pace has slightly surpassed Nvidia's demand,” Chey said.
SK hynix is a semiconductor affiliate of SK Group and is currently dominating the lucrative high bandwidth memory chip market as the main supplier for Nvidia, the world's top graphic processing units maker.
When Chey was touring the SK showroom, he also revealed that he made a deal to sell the glass substrate products made by SKC at the tech show.
"I just sold this (to a client)," Chey said, holding up the glass substrate during the tour, Wednesday.
By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)