Covers employees in 9 Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran

730 deployed staff and their families to receive gift vouchers

Lee also sent gifts in March; chairman pays close attention to employee safety

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visits the underground tunnel construction site of the NEOM new town project in Tabuk Province, northwestern Saudi Arabia, during the chuseok holiday in October 2020, encouraging workers on site. [Samsung Electronics]
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visits the underground tunnel construction site of the NEOM new town project in Tabuk Province, northwestern Saudi Arabia, during the chuseok holiday in October 2020, encouraging workers on site. [Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has again sent gifts and words of encouragement to employees and their families stationed in the Middle East, where anxiety remains high amid prolonged conflict in the region.

Samsung Electronics said Friday that Lee sent gift vouchers to employees deployed at Samsung affiliates and their families as a gesture of appreciation.

The recipients include 730 employees from Samsung affiliates posted across nine countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain — along with their families residing locally or in South Korea.

Employees deployed in the Middle East received gift vouchers worth 3 million to 5 million won ($3,710) redeemable locally, while family members in South Korea received Onuri gift vouchers — usable at traditional markets and small local businesses — worth 2 million to 3 million won.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives by helicopter at the NEOM new town construction site in Tabuk Province, northwestern Saudi Arabia, during the chuseok holiday in October 2020, before making his way to the underground tunnel construction site where Samsung C&T is participating. [Samsung Electronics]
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives by helicopter at the NEOM new town construction site in Tabuk Province, northwestern Saudi Arabia, during the chuseok holiday in October 2020, before making his way to the underground tunnel construction site where Samsung C&T is participating. [Samsung Electronics]

Lee also sent a letter of gratitude to the employees. The letter stated that "the company always puts your safety and health first."

"Your passion and dedication — quietly fulfilling your duties even under difficult circumstances — serve as a great inspiration to all of us," Lee wrote. "I am deeply grateful for the sense of responsibility and effort you show in your respective roles."

In March, Samsung delivered gifts and a letter from Lee to employees and their families stationed in the Middle East, at his initiative.

That round covered around 500 employees and their families across three countries — the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This time, Samsung expanded the scope to cover employees deployed across the entire Middle East.

Samsung currently has a large number of employees posted in the Middle East, working on projects ranging from AI data center and nuclear power plant construction to energy plant development, as well as IT business cooperation in mobile and home appliances — all part of the company's push to cultivate future growth engines.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong poses for a photo with employees during a visit to the Barakah nuclear power plant construction site in the UAE in December 2022. [Samsung Electronics]
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong poses for a photo with employees during a visit to the Barakah nuclear power plant construction site in the UAE in December 2022. [Samsung Electronics]

The Middle East is the region where Lee has invested the most effort, describing it as "a treasure trove full of opportunity."

It was also the first destination he chose for an overseas trip after becoming chairman. Just two months into his tenure, in December 2022, Lee visited the Barakah nuclear power plant construction site in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi. The Barakah project is South Korea's first overseas nuclear power plant construction project, carried out by a "Team Korea" consortium that includes Samsung C&T.

During the chuseok holiday in September 2023, Lee visited Saudi Arabia and Israel. In Saudi Arabia, he inspected the mountain tunnel construction site for NEOM, an eco-friendly smart city project in which Samsung C&T is participating.

"The Middle East is a treasure trove full of opportunities to find future growth engines and apply innovative technology," Lee said at the time, encouraging local staff for their hard work.

The day after Lee was acquitted on all charges in the first trial related to the alleged illegal merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in February 2024, he visited Samsung worksites in the Middle East during the Lunar New Year holiday.


joze@heraldcorp.com