[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics' mobile business chief Koh Dong-jin will once again take the stage to unveil the upcoming flagship smartphone Galaxy S8 at the Unpacked event in New York on March 29, the company said on March 27.

Since he took the helm in 2016, Koh has hosted the unveiling event for the company’s new flagship phones, including the S7 and the ill-fated Note 7. 

Koh Dong-jin

The latest S8 is expected to feature a larger-than-ever wraparound display and Samsung’s first artificial intelligence assistant Bixby, among other things.

The Unpacked event is usually attended by a number of Samsung executives and employees to celebrate the crucial launch of the year, but this year, following the Note fiasco, Koh has reportedly asked for fewer participants, according to industry sources.

“Koh has told most of the executives and employees to stay at their workplaces and to focus on quality control,” a Samsung official said. Along with Koh, some division heads are expected to take part in the event, the official added.

The Note fallout cost Samsung more than 7 trillion won (US$6.28 billion) in operating profit last year. But the Korean tech giant retained the top brass rather than seeking a drastic change amid the leadership vacuum following the indictment of Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)