[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was spotted carrying a “Gold Platinum” Galaxy Note 7 smartphone on his way to the Seoul headquarters on Sept. 21.

This was the first time the heir apparent of the nation’s largest conglomerate was seen in public amid the bigger-screen flagship phone’s global recall. Last week, Samsung’s shareholders nominated him as a registered board member of the company. 

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters the Seoul headquarters building on Sept. 21.

His appearance led to speculation that he may attend the weekly meeting of Samsung CEOs held in the early morning but the company said he didn’t attend the meeting.

Samsung’s owner family members, none of whom have a CEO title, have been absent from the meeting that is usually followed by a special lecture.

On the day, Keio University’s policy management professor Isao Yanagimachi offered a lecture on Japan’s prolonged economic recession and the recovery efforts by companies.

Following the lecture, a briefing session was also held on a new anti-graft law, called the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, which is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 28.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)