Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jay-yong will skip the 2014 International CES next week in Las Vegas.

Lee told a local news outlet Thursday that he would not attend the event ― considered one of the world’s most influential electronics trade shows ― on account of an annual award ceremony at Samsung.

It will be the first time in eight years for the heir apparent of Samsung Group to miss the trade show, a place where Lee had frequently met Samsung’s key partners and clients to talk over both business and personal matters.

The vice chairman first started to take part in the CES in 2007.

Next week, Samsung Group will hold a ceremony to recognize executives and employees who performed well and played a leading role in Samsung’s key business projects.

Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee participated in the CES in 2010 and 2012, but he will also skip this year’s show.

Yoon Boo-keun, the firm’s consumer electronics unit chief, and Shin Jong-kyun, its mobile unit chief will be among the participants from the Korean tech giant at the trade show.

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