Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has maintained a special relationship with the UAE
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong paid tribute to the late President Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Korea on May 17.
It is unusual for a business leader to pay tribute to the burial place of a head of state that is not well known in Korea.
Diplomats believe that Vice Chairman Lee's visit to the funeral of President Khalifa was influenced by his special relationship with the UAE and relations with UAE leaders.
Vice Chairman Lee has served as a bridge between Samsung and the UAE market through strong relationships with UAE leaders.
He has also maintained a special relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, who has led the country since President Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014.
When the Crown Prince visited Samsung Electronics' Hwaseong business site on Feb. 26, 2019, Vice Chairman Lee personally guided him to the 5G and semiconductor exhibition halls and production lines.