After attending the New Year's meeting of the Samsung Group at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Jan. 2, Lee told reporters that "(Samsung) will expand investment and employment, if we can (do them)."
In his New Year's address earlier in the day, he said Samsung will actively join forces to increase investment and create jobs to help revive the country's economy.
Lee's remarks raised the possibility of Samsung's investment in 2013 exceeding 47.8 trillion won, a record high tallied last year, industry sources said.
President-elect Park Geun-hye has asked businesses to join hands in reviving the economy.
Referring to businesses' international competitiveness, the tycoon said during an economic downturn, there appears a noticeable gap between companies' competitiveness.
"Only the strong one can survive in the international market," he said.
Lee emphasized that the future of Samsung depends on how many No. 1 products in the global market Samsung will produce.
"Let's forget the success Samsung has achieved for the past decades and start a new beginning," he said.
By Keat Min Woo
Aju Business Daily intern
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com