LG to Focus on Training 'Super-CEOs' Samsung Chief Calls for 'Genius Strategy' (1) Samsung Chief Calls for 'Genius Strategy' (3)

There is Koo Bon-moo, chairman of LG Group, who says that training a chief executive to be an able leader is more important than a couple of geniuses; or Kim Jae-chul, chairman of the Dongwon Group, who says that a company needs five people of common abilities who can work together more effectively than one genius can. There are criticisms that Lee's "genius" concept stresses science and engineering far more than the common managerial tasks.

Lee explained that the term "genius" is a concept used to overcome the "mechanical equality" that is part of the Korean stereotype. He expressed strong resentment for the philosophy that everyone has to be treated equally regardless of one's ability or accomplishments. Lee lamented that with Korean society's evasion of science and engineering and promotion of extreme equality, efforts to train a genius who can feed thousands of people are not being made.

When asked about his plans to cultivate geniuses, Lee retorted by asking would there be a Bill Gates or Microsoft if Gates had been born in another country? In other words, the country's policies and strategies are most important in cultivating geniuses. Lee explained that a genius like Gates was able to be cultivated in the United States because it is the land of freedom, which guarantees that worthwhile efforts get results.

Lee said that the United States educates its genius students in private schools, and brings in the genius brains in the field of science and engineering from all over the world through immigration. That is the difference that makes a national power, he said.

Lee, with his son Lee Jae-yong, an executive at Samsung Electronics, established the Samsung Lee Kun-hee Scholarship Foundation last year by donating W150 billion ($125 million). Lee said that he wished to find a genius like Bill Gates and cultivate the person for the next 10 to 20 years. He does not mean a student with good grades but someone who has free expression and original thoughts; someone who will be thinking of things that no one has ever thought of.

Critics say the Lee Kun-hee foundation was set up as a tax shelter. Others say you need a genius to find another genius. Still others say Samsung's success was not due to a genius but due to aggressive decision-making and other market factors. Lee says he is disappointed with those who disparage his "pure" intentions.

He said that Samsung cannot take all the credit for rearing the nation's talents; but that because the nation had contributed so much to Samsung's success, he wished to take a small part in training the geniuses.