Samsung Electronics executive chairman Lee Jae-yong spent about two weeks in France during the Paris 2024 Olympics, meeting international business and public figures while also attending events and supporting South Korean athletes. Samsung described the Games as a place to discuss business opportunities and build relationships; Yonhap later reported Lee’s attendance at the men’s sabre final and his positive reaction to Korea’s performance. Neither report establishes a specific deal or measurable business return from his trip.
What Lee did in Paris
Samsung Newsroom Korea reported on July 28, 2024, that Lee left for France on the night of July 24. The company said he had meetings planned with leaders in semiconductors, information technology and automotive industries, and identified former ASML chief executive Peter Wennink among the business figures he met. Samsung also said Lee attended a July 25 lunch hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Roughly 40 business leaders exchanged views there on the global economy, technology trends and organizational culture. Samsung Newsroom Korea’s account also said Lee attended an Olympic-eve dinner co-hosted by Macron and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
Yonhap’s August 7 follow-up reported that Lee returned to South Korea after about two weeks in France and had held a series of meetings with global political, sports and business figures, including people in the semiconductor, IT and automotive sectors. Lee declined to discuss meeting details, saying the results would need to speak for themselves. The accounts establish that meetings took place, not that they produced an agreement. Yonhap’s trip report
How Lee supported South Korean athletes
Yonhap reported that Lee watched South Korea’s men’s sabre final on July 27. Oh Sang-uk won the team’s first gold medal of the Games. After returning, Lee said, “I was happy because our athletes did well at the Olympics,” according to Yonhap’s translation of his remarks.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Lee also commented on Samsung’s Olympic marketing, saying he felt rewarded because the Galaxy Z Flip6 selfie campaign seemed to have gone well, Yonhap reported. His comments link the trip’s sporting and corporate sides, but they are his assessment rather than an independent measure of the campaign’s performance.
Why Samsung sees the Olympics as a business setting
Samsung’s explanation is that the Olympics bring together business leaders who can look for future opportunities, consider expanded customer cooperation and review strategy, alongside supporting national teams and networking. That is the company’s stated rationale for the setting, not evidence of a particular financial result from Lee’s visit.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Samsung says its Olympic involvement began as a local sponsor of Seoul 1988. It signed a TOP (The Olympic Partner) agreement with the IOC in 1997 and became the official wireless communications sponsor beginning at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Samsung’s sponsorship history
Samsung’s Paris 2024 device activity
The company’s broader Olympic presence included technology deployments and athlete-facing marketing, which are separate from Lee’s meetings. Samsung Global Newsroom reported that Paris 2024 organizers and task forces used nearly 15,000 Galaxy devices: more than 7,100 smartphones, over 2,500 tablets and 5,200 laptops. These are Samsung’s figures for devices used by organizers and task forces, not devices involved in Lee’s trip. Samsung Global Newsroom’s device figures
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Yonhap reported that about 17,000 Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition phones were supplied to participating athletes. Samsung and the IOC also ran the Victory Selfie activation. The Olympic Edition is distinct from the standard Galaxy Z Flip6; the cited reports do not establish whether the special edition was available for retail purchase. Yonhap on the athlete phones
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reports do—and do not—show
Samsung’s July 28 account provides the company’s explanation of why the Olympics offer a useful setting for business leaders and its account of the sponsorship relationship. Yonhap’s August 7 report adds the later trip summary, Lee’s comments and his attendance at the sabre final. Taken together, they show a trip combining relationship-building and support for Korean athletes. They do not document a concluded deal, a financial return, or measurable diplomatic gains attributable to Lee’s visit.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
