miracle, bolstering companies like Samsung and Hyundai.
President Park Geun-hye. Daughter of dictator Park Chung-hee. As the
democratically elected president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, she
was implicated in organizing almost $38 million in bribes from Samsung
for her political ally. President Park was removed from office and jailed in
March 2017.
Lee Ki-tae (K.T. Lee). No relation to the ruling Lee family. K.T. Lee was the
CEO of Samsung Electronics’ mobile phone unit from 2000 to 2007. He
started out as a factory floor manager; as CEO of Samsung’s mobile phone
unit, he elevated the quality and durability of Samsung mobile phones and
brought them to the U.S. market.
Hwang Chang-gyu. President of Samsung’s semiconductors unit from 2004 to
2008, and chief technology officer of Samsung Electronics from 2008 to
- Hwang made a key deal with Apple’s Steve Jobs in 2005 to supply
chips for the iPod and later the iPhone, spurring Samsung’s explosive
growth.
Choi Gee-sung (G.S. Choi). Formerly the powerful lieutenant to Samsung’s
ruling Lee family and head of the Future Strategy Office, Samsung’s
highest body that houses many of the elite executives, known as “the
Tower.” Now serving a five-year prison sentence for bribery and
embezzlement.
Shin Jong-kyun (J.K. Shin). CEO of Samsung’s mobile unit from March 2013
to December 2015. He oversaw the kick-starting of the Galaxy smartphone
line and helped to initiate the smartphone wars against Apple.
Koh Dong-jin (D.J. Koh). Successor to J.K. Shin and CEO of Samsung’s
mobile unit from December 2015 to the present. He oversaw the recall and
cancellation of the Galaxy Note 7 after the product began catching fire.
Sohn Dae-il (“Dale”). CEO of Samsung Telecommunications America from
2006 to August 2013. He helped lead the smartphone wars against Apple.
II. THE AMERICANS
Peter Arnell. Hired by Chairman Lee II to bring cutting-edge, fashion-based
advertising to Samsung products in the mid-1990s, when the company was
known as a manufacturer. Former head of the Arnell Group in New York.
Gordon Bruce. Design professor at ArtCenter in Pasadena, California. Co-
founder of the Innovative Design Lab of Samsung (IDS) from 1995 to
1998.
Pete Skarzynski. Vice president for sales and marketing at Samsung’s
American unit from 1997 to 2007. With K.T. Lee, he brought Samsung