Korea’s business bigwigs flock to 2014 CES

Moguls of Korea’s major electronics businesses plan to participate in the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, one of the largest consumer electronics trade shows in the world, early next month.

Participants are expected to learn of the latest trends in global electronics and to seek opportunities to beef up networks with global electronics vendors and retailers at the Jan. 7-10 event.

Samsung Electronics’ consumer electronics chief Yoon Boo-keun and mobile unit chief Shin Jong-kyun are to lead the group of executives and officials from Korea’s largest electronics firm.

The tech giant will unveil its latest technologies including the world’s largest 105-inch Ultra HD TV, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and mid-range tablet PC Galaxy Tab 3.

Samsung and LG Electronics are forecast to showcase their so-called “variable display” TVs, featuring a flat screen that can be also curved.

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jay-yong, the only son of chairman Lee Kun-hee and heir apparent, is reportedly unable to attend the trade show in Las Vegas.

The vice chairman, who has participated in it every year since 2007, will instead attend chairman Lee’s 72nd birthday dinner on Jan. 9. The senior Lee had attended the CES alongside his son in 2010 and 2012.

Spearheaded by LG Electronics’ vice chairman Koo Bon-joon, the group of chiefs and executives representing the nation’s No. 2 tech giant will include Cho Sung-jin and Ha Hyun-hoi, heads of the home appliance and home entertainment units, respectively.

Han Sang-beom, CEO of LG Display, will also participate in the show and lead the company’s marketing efforts. It will be his fourth time to take part in the trade show since he took the helm of the display company in 2010.

Also attracting much attention is whether Koo Kwang-mo, the son of LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo and the de facto heir apparent to Korea’s second-largest conglomerate, will participate.

Dongbu Daewoo Electronics will not officially participate, but its vice chairman Lee Jae-hyung will reportedly pay a visit to the show just to catch up with the latest trends in the TV market. Dongbu Daewoo Electronics is poised to expand its TV business in earnest from next year.

Hyundai Motor Group ― the parent group of Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. ― will participate in the auto wing of the show.

Kia Motors plans to display its latest telematics systems, and Kwak Woo-young, who is the head of the vehicle IT service division, will lead the troupe of executives and officials from the firm.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company is scheduled to unveil its New Genesis, the latest version of its flagship model, to compete among large luxury cars in the global market.

“Unveiling the New Genesis at the CES indicates that Hyundai Motor perceives cars as highly advanced electronics products (not just vehicles),” said an official from Hyundai Motor.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)