President Lee lunches with Samsung workers at Asan campus, encourages semiconductor staff

President Lee Jae Myung visited the cafeteria at Samsung Electronics' Onyang Campus in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, on Thursday to share lunch with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and a group of frontline employees, offering encouragement to workers in the semiconductor sector.

According to a written briefing by Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Seong-wan, the president moved to the campus cafeteria after concluding the fourth inspection meeting of the mega-project and joined employees for lunch. As he entered, Chairman Lee greeted him personally and introduced the menu — thinly sliced beef brisket, multigrain rice, doenjang (fermented soybean paste) stew, steamed egg, seasoned bean sprouts and chives, fruit salad, roasted chestnuts, and a pear-ginger drink. Employees in the cafeteria rose to their feet, welcoming the president with applause and cheers, and many took photos and videos with their phones.

The president carried his own tray through the serving line before sitting down across from nine employee representatives. Those at the table included Kim Ju-woo, the first master craftsman in HBM mass production; Han Chang-hun, a system packaging production worker; Ju Jae-hong, a 20-year manufacturing veteran who grew up in Onyang; Park Jun-seop, a semiconductor product defect analyst; Kim So-won, an organizational culture specialist; Jeong Eui-chang, an advanced HBM research and development expert; Park Mun-seong, a test equipment process innovation expert; Park Hye-min, a working mother with 16 years of service; and Choe Sol-a, an HBM strategy officer from Gwangju.

Before the meal, Chairman Lee expressed gratitude, saying the groundbreaking — held that day — had been completed in far less than the eight or more months it would normally take, and that the Gwangju project looked set to move even faster with the president's direct attention. President Lee praised Samsung's bold investment and execution.

When Kim Ju-woo, seated across from the president, introduced himself as the first master craftsman in HBM mass production, Chairman Lee explained that Samsung employs many workers who did not attend university and that anyone who stays for 20 or more years can become a master craftsman. President Lee expressed keen interest, asking whether high school graduates could indeed reach that status. Kim said Meister high school graduates were skilled workers who also handled AI well. Chairman Lee added that all Samsung employees receive 100 percent AI training, prompting the president to voice agreement on the need for nationwide AI education while acknowledging that finding the right venues and methods remained a challenge.

The conversation turned lighthearted. One employee brought up the Myers-Briggs personality test, saying they had always assumed the president was a "T" type but after watching the program "The President's Y" thought he might be an "F." The president laughed and asked what the difference was. After finishing his meal, he remarked that the food was delicious and asked whether it was always this good. The employees replied that the usual spread was actually better and that the day's menu was on the modest side — drawing laughter from the table.

At the close of the lunch, a Samsung official mentioned that the construction site was struggling to find skilled pipe fitters for plumbing work. The president wrapped up the visit by instructing Chief of Staff Im Gwang-hyeon to look into ways to train more pipe fitters.