November 26, 2024

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Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics vice chairman, participates in the Samsung Ho-Am Prize award ceremony held at the Shilla hotel in central Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Tuesday showed up to participate in the Samsung Ho-Am Prize award ceremony for the first time in six years, but stayed mum on questions about his meeting with Intel’s CEO from the previous day.

A group of reporters asked him about investment plans on his way to the ceremony, but Samsung group‘s de facto leader did not answer any questions.

Named after the penname of Samsung group’s late founder Lee Byung-chull, the Samsung Ho-Am Prize was established in 1990 by Lee Kun-hee, the late chairman of Samsung. The prize is given to individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to academics, arts, social development and welfare of humanity.

This year’s recipients include: Oh Yong-geun, professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology; Chang Suk-bok, professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; Cha Sang-kyun, professor at Seoul National University; Joung J. Keith, professor at Harvard Medical School; Kim Hye-soon, poet; and the Heart-to-Heart Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with disabilities.

The award ceremony took place at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul. Each winner received a cash prize of 300 million won ($242,000). Including this year’s recipients, the foundation has awarded 30.7 billion won to a total of 164 winners since 1990.

By Kan Hyeong-woo (hwkan@heraldcorp.com)