Foreign media on Oct. 25 gave extensive coverage of the death of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee. Pictured here is an article by The Washington Post on him on the day of his passing.

By Lee Hana

News of the death of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee on Oct. 25 made international headlines, with foreign media reflecting on his life, leadership and achievements.

Global news agencies including The Associated Press (AP), Reuters, AFP and Kyodo News covered his passing as breaking news.

The AP said, "Lee Kun-hee, the ailing Samsung Electronics chairman, transformed the small television maker into a global giant of consumer electronics," adding, "During his nearly 30 years of leadership, Samsung Electronics Co. became a global brand and the world's largest maker of smartphones, televisions and memory chips."

"Lee leaves behind immense wealth, with Forbes estimating his fortune at (USD) 16 billion as of January 2017."

France's AFP said, "Under Lee's leadership, Samsung rose to become the world's largest producer of smartphones and memory chips, and the firm's overall turnover today is equivalent to a fifth of South Korea's GDP."

The New York Times on Oct. 25 covered the death of Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Group. (Screen shot of NYT article)

The New York Times said, "Lee Kun-hee built Samsung into a global giant of smartphones, televisions and computer chips," adding, "Samsung Electronics today is a cornerstone of South Korea’s economy and one of the world’s top corporate spenders on research and development."

"Over the course of his tenure, even as professional managers came to have more responsibility at the group, Mr. Lee remained Samsung’s big thinker, the provider of grand strategic direction."

The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun said Lee, Korea's richest man and second Samsung chairman, died on Oct. 25 at a Seoul hospital, saying he transformed Samsung into a leading IT company through active investment and overseas expansion.

It also predicted that his death would have no immediate effect on Samsung's management as his son, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, is technically in charge as the company's head.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a statement on the death of Lee Kun-hee, an IOC honorary member. (Screenshot of IOC website)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a statement on Lee Kun-hee's death, as he was an IOC honorary member.

IOC President Thomas Bach said, "Lee Kun-hee made a great contribution to the Olympic Movement and the success of the Olympic Games by not only making Samsung a top partner of the IOC, but also by promoting the Olympic Games worldwide and by fostering the bond between sport and culture."

"This Olympic legacy of Lee Kun-hee will continue to live on. To commemorate him, the IOC will fly the Olympic flag at half-mast in Lausanne."

Lee Kun-hee had been hospitalized since May 2014 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Seoul. Before his illness, he had led Samsung for 27 years since 1987.

He was elected to the IOC as a member in 1996 and became an honorary member in 2017.

hlee10@korea.kr