혁신을 향한 삼성의 질주와 땀방울로 일궈낸 여자축구의 본선행 > K-wave Trends

The 'AI Great Transformation' announced by Samsung Electronics is a battle for survival that goes beyond simple introduction of technology and fundamentally improves the company's constitution. The 'fundamental change in organizational DNA' mentioned by Chairman Lee Jae-yong is based on the desperate recognition that the company will not be left behind in a situation where the global paradigm is being reorganized around AI. Starting with the introduction of externally generated AI such as ChatGPT and Gemini to all affiliates, Samsung plans to transplant AI into all business processes from research and development to production and marketing. In particular, the plan to conduct intensive training to increase AI literacy starting from the CEO and to complete training for all employees within this year shows a strong will to completely change the way we work from leadership to working staff. The strategy of establishing a new dedicated organization to systematize data management and talent development is also interpreted as a stepping stone to prove that Samsung's digital innovation DNA is still valid in the AI ​​era.

Meanwhile, the news about the women's soccer team from Guam was like a drama. The national team, led by coach Shin Sang-woo, had a tense overtime match with Chinese Taipei for the right to advance to the 2026 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship finals. Despite being the defending champion, Korea, ranked 19th in the FIFA rankings, had to face the harsh reality of having to go through the preliminaries due to ranking points. Although they showed off their offensive power through huge wins against Guam and Macau, Taiwan was no slouch when they met in the finals. Many people felt anxious when they were unable to maintain a 2-0 lead in the second half and allowed the score to be tied, but the national team remained focused until the end and ended the game in overtime.

In this women's soccer game, Yoon Soo-jeong's multiple goals and Jang Seul-gi's winning goal were symbolic scenes that showed the team's crisis management ability. Substitute Yoon Soo-jeong played the role of a solution by breaking through the frustrating attack, and defender Jang Seul-gi pulled the team out of the quagmire with a decisive goal in the second half of extra time. Although they allowed a 2-point lead twice and had trouble concentrating on defense, their tenacity in eventually creating a score of 5-3 proved that they were worthy of competing against Japan, North Korea, and China in the finals. This preliminary round, which combines the skillful management of Ji So-yeon and other veterans with the spirit of young players, will be a valuable asset in the challenge to win the championship for the second time in a row.

Coincidentally, a subtle atmosphere surrounding the president's farewell event was detected in the political world at this time, showing a contrasting appearance. Regarding the fact that Representative Chung Cheong-rae, who always attended, was absent and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok took his place, interpretations related to the responsibility for local elections poured out. At a time when political actions and interpretations are divided, Samsung's future-oriented innovation and the news of women's soccer advancing to the finals have great implications for us. A company's efforts to break the mold of the past for the survival of the organization or the athletes' sweat to overcome the barrier of rankings remind us of how important it is to not be afraid of change. Focusing on the process of moving toward essential goals rather than external noise and political interpretation may be the attitude our society needs right now.