Lee Jae-yong (Korean: 이재용; born June 23, 1968), anglicized as Jay Y. Lee,[3] is a South Korean business executive who has been serving as the executive chairman of Samsung Electronics since October 2022.[4] He is the only son of Lee Kun-hee and Hong Ra-hee.[5] As of 17 April 2024, Lee has an estimated net worth of US$11.5 billion, making him the richest person in South Korea.[6]
Lee started working for Samsung in 1991. He began serving as Vice President of Strategic Planning and then as "Chief Customer Officer", a management position created exclusively for Lee. His prospects for future company leadership dimmed when his father Kun-hee stepped down as Chairman due to tax evasion.[13]
Since December 2012, he has been vice chairman of Samsung. He is one of the main shareholders of Samsung's financial services subsidiary, owning 11 percent of Samsung SDS.[12] He has been described as having "been groomed to take over the family firm".[14]
Management style
According to an article in Reuters, Lee is known for his "cold" determination and polite, quiet demeanor. Lee is known to reply personally to e-mails, and assumes a light-hearted attitude with reporters.[8]
In August 2021, The Korea Herald reported that Lee retained his title as Samsung's "Vice-Chairman" despite not drawing a salary or being registered as an executive in compliance with his work ban.[15]
An initial request for an arrest warrant was rejected by the Seoul Central District Court in mid-January 2017.[21][22][23][24] In February 2017, Lee was formally indicted,[20] and arrested after the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant.[18][25] Lee was charged with "offering US$38 million in bribes to four entities controlled by a friend of then-President Park Geun-hye, including a company in Germany set up to support equestrian training for the daughter of one of Park's friends, Choi Soon-sil" and "Prosecutors alleged the bribes were offered in exchange for government help with a merger that strengthened Lee's control over Samsung at a crucial time for organizing a smooth leadership transition after his father fell ill."[20] After his arrest, Samsung admitted to making contributions to two nonprofit foundations allegedly controlled by Choi and her Germany-based firm but denied such contributions were related to the 2015 merger.[26] A spokesman for Samsung said, "We will do our best to ensure that the truth is revealed in future court proceedings."[18]
The case attracted the attention of the South Korean public; public opinion had turned against chaebols, whose influence on society angered many.[27]
Lee was found guilty on each charge by a three-judge panel of Seoul Central District Court in August 2017 and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Prosecutors had sought a 12-year sentence.)[28][29][30] In February 2018, the Seoul High Court reduced his prison sentence to 2.5 years, and suspended his prison sentence, leading to Lee's release after one year of detention.[31][32][27] Subsequently, the Supreme Court of South Korea sent the case back to Seoul High Court, which held a retrial.[31] In January 2021, Lee was sentenced to two years and six months in prison by Seoul High Court, which found him "guilty of bribery, embezzlement and concealment of criminal proceeds" worth about ₩8.6 billion (US$7.8 million, GB£5.75 million), and found that Samsung's independent compliance committee, established in 2020, was not yet fully effective.[31] Lee was returned to prison.[33]
In mid-2021, the United States Chamber of Commerce, a lobbying group of American companies, joined Korean business groups to urge the president to pardon Lee, arguing that the billionaire executive can help strengthen U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to end American dependence on computer chips produced overseas amid the 2020–2023 global chip shortage.[34][35] Lee was released on parole from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang on August 13, 2021; the South Korean government argued that the release was in the national interest. His parole conditions included business restrictions for five years and requiring permission before travelling outside South Korea.[36][37] Upon leaving prison, Lee apologized, bowing to reporters and saying: "I've caused much concern for the people. I deeply apologize. I am listening to the concerns, criticisms, worries, and high expectations for me. I will work hard."[38][39]
In August 2022, President Yoon Suk Yeol granted a pardon to Lee, citing Samsung's importance to the economy; the pardon opened the door for Lee to take up leadership of the conglomerate.[40][41]
2021 drug conviction
On October 26, 2021, Lee was convicted for illegally using the drug propofol multiple times between 2015 and 2020 from a plastic surgery clinic. He was sentenced to a fine of ₩70 million (US$60,055).[42][43][44]
Personal life
Lee has one son Lee Ji-ho (born 2000) and one daughter Lee Won-joo (born 2004) with his ex-wife Lim Se-ryung [ko]. Lim is the Vice Chairwoman of Daesung Group.[45] She filed for divorce from Lee Jae-yong in 2009.[46]
