Group heir promoted to vice chairman of Samsung Elec.

Samsung Group on Wednesday promoted Lee Jae-yong, president of Samsung Electronics and the only son of group chairman Lee Kun-hee, to vice chairman of the tech giant, putting him a step closer to a top position at Korea`s No. 1 conglomerate.

Park Geun-hee was also promoted from president of Samsung Life Insurance to vice chairman. Seven vice presidents, including Samsung Electronics vice presidents Lee Don-ju and Hong Won-pyo and Lim Dai-ki and Rhee In-yong, vice presidents of the group`s future strategic department, were promoted to president.

Samsung announced its personnel reshuffle for 2013, with two people promoted to vice chairman and seven to president and eight being transferred to other companies. This marks a huge personnel shift that defied expectations of a conservative shake-up.

Lee Jae-yong entered Samsung Electronics in 2001 as acting vice president in charge of the management planning team. He was promoted to vice president in 2003 and to executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2007 before moving up to president in 2010.

The scion of the group chairman has supported the conglomerate`s management on the side. Attending the funeral of Apple founder Steve Jobs last year, he emerged to the fore by spearheading patent lawsuits against the American rival. This year, he broadened his external scope by meeting China`s new leadership, including President Xi Jinping.

On Lee Jae-yong`s promotion, the group said he greatly contributed to helping Samsung Electronics rake in record earnings at the vanguard even as global rivals suffered from hardship, adding that he will raise his support for the company`s business lines on-site

Many say he has played a huge role in helping Samsung Electronics achieve a record performance, but had predicted that his promotion would be delayed until next year due to harsh criticism by politicians against large companies based on "economic democratization" pledges ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election. Yet the group decided to proceed with his promotion after judging public sentiment as favorable after the 25th anniversary of Chairman Lee Kun-hee`s inauguration on Friday last week.

Companies say Lee Jae-yong will keep solidifying his leadership as his close aides were given important positions in the reshuffle. Yoon Joo-hwa, president of Samsung Electronics` DMC unit, was transferred to Cheil Industries, and Lee Sang-hoon, president of the company`s future strategy department, will head the unit for management of finished electronics goods.

coolj@donga.com