Korea's chaebol families add nearly $25 billion in wealth in first half of 2025

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong speaks with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang alongside Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won during a Korea-US Business Roundtable reception Yonhap — Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong talks with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won during a Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable reception. Yonhap

SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - The fortunes of South Korea’s largest business dynasties swelled in the first half of the year, buoyed by rising share prices in their sprawling corporate empires, according to data released Tuesday.

Combined assets held by the owner families of the country’s 50 biggest conglomerates rose by nearly 33 trillion won, or about $24.8 billion, between January and August, research firm Leaders Index said.

Their holdings were valued at 144.4 trillion won ($108.6 billion) as of late August, based on the firm’s analysis of 623 family members with equity stakes in affiliated companies.

Samsung heirs were the biggest beneficiaries. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong saw his wealth climb 4.7 trillion won to roughly 16.6 trillion won, largely driven by a 48 percent surge in Samsung C&T shares. His stake in the company rose in value by 1.8 trillion won.

Lee's sister, Lee Boo-jin, who runs Hotel Shilla, gained 1.9 trillion won, while their mother, Hong Ra-hee, honorary director of the Leeum Museum of Art, added 1.7 trillion won. Altogether, the Samsung family’s wealth grew by 10 trillion won, accounting for about one-third of the total gains among chaebol families.

Outside Samsung, Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon’s assets rose by 2 trillion won to 3 trillion won, partly through stake transfers and family share exchanges after the death of former honorary chairman Cho Seok-rae.

Hyundai Motor Group’s Chairman, Chung Eui-sun, added 1.8 trillion won, lifted by stock splits and share price increases across affiliates, including logistics arm Hyundai Glovis.

Not all saw gains. Kyobo Life’s Chairman, Shin Chang-jae, lost nearly 800 billion won as his assets fell 25 percent to 2.5 trillion won, dragged down by declines in his company’s share value.

Yoo Jung-hyun, chairwoman of NXC and widow of Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju, also shed more than 200 billion won after selling part of her stake and as the company’s per-share valuation dropped.

Candice Kim candicekim1121@ajupress.com