Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives in Seoul for Samsung visit

October 14, 2014
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Incheon International Airport on Oct. 14. (Yonhap)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Incheon International Airport on Oct. 14. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited Samsung Electronics Co. headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday, Samsung officials said, in an apparent bid to discuss new business models for the two firms.

A Samsung spokesman said Zuckerberg had visited the headquarters, without revealing other details including people he met with and the purpose of the visit. He is believed to have met with Samsung’s heir-apparent Lee Jay-yong, who was spotted entering the building shortly ahead of the spokesman’s remarks.

Lee did not respond to reporters’ questions as he entered the building, including whether Zuckerberg will also visit Samsung’s Suwon facilities, the company’s main manufacturing line located just south of Seoul, during his stay.

Industry sources said Samsung had been making efforts to forge deeper ties with Facebook Inc. to find new sources of profit amid rising challenges from rivals, including Apple Inc. of the U.S. and new Chinese players such as Xiaomi Corp.

In June last year, Zuckerberg also visited Seoul, meeting with Lee as well as President Park Geun-hye.