Rare event brings together 170 executives and spouses as two conglomerates expand cooperation in chips, batteries and robotics
Samsung Electronics is bringing together top executives from Hyundai Motor Group for an unprecedented gathering Monday, signaling closer ties between two of South Korea's largest conglomerates as they deepen cooperation in automotive chips, batteries and robotics.
The event, called "Appreciation Day," was scheduled for Monday afternoon at Samsung's training center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, according to industry sources.
About 170 executives and their spouses were expected to attend. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun and Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chang Jae-hoon were set to preside over the gathering, which was to include a performance and dinner.
Samsung reportedly proposed the event to thank Hyundai Motor Group for their business partnership. The company has previously hosted networking events for business partners, but this was its first such gathering arranged exclusively for another Korean conglomerate.
Samsung's delegation was expected to include Roh Tae-moon, co-CEO of Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun, Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Chang Duck-hyun and Samsung Display CEO Yi Chung.
Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz and Manfred Harrer, head of research and development at Hyundai Motor and Kia, were also expected to attend.
The two groups have expanded their commercial ties in recent years, particularly in components and software for electric and connected vehicles.
Samsung SDI supplies prismatic batteries for Hyundai Motor Group's electric vehicles, including the Genesis GV90 luxury SUV. Samsung Electronics' foundry division was also reported last year to have secured an order to manufacture Hyundai's internally developed autonomous-driving chips.
The companies have also worked together to connect Hyundai and Kia vehicles with household appliances through Samsung's SmartThings platform. Their Car-to-Home service, launched in March, allows drivers to remotely control compatible home devices from their vehicles.
In February 2025, Samsung SDI, Hyundai Motor and Kia signed an agreement to jointly develop high-performance batteries for service robots.
Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group had limited business ties after Samsung entered the automobile market in the 1990s. Their relationship began to change in 2020, when the groups' chairmen visited each other's battery and automotive research facilities, two decades after Samsung withdrew from car manufacturing.
mjh@heraldcorp.com
