The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Samsung chief tops list of Korea’s richest 400

By Korea Herald

Published : July 1, 2013 - 20:35

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Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee once again topped the list of Korea’s 400 richest individuals of 2013 with total assets standing at 12.8 trillion won.

Each of the 28 richest Koreans held assets worth more than 1 trillion won ($875 million) this year, conglomerate information website Chaebul.com reported on Monday.

At nearly half of Lee’s total wealth, or 6.8 trillion won, Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo came in second, while the son of Samsung chairman and vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Lee Jay-yong, with a 3.9 trillion won fortune, came in third.

The total assets owned by the five family members of Samsung Group accounted for more than 20.5 trillion won, the website said.

Apart from the chairman and vice chairman’s holdings, the chairman’s wife and director of Samsung Museum of Art, Leeum Hong Ra-hee’s assets stood at 1.6 trillion won, while her younger daughter and vice president of Samsung’s fashion arm, Cheil Industries, Lee Seo-hyun’s total net wealth was nearly 1.2 trillion won.

With 3.5 trillion won in wealth, Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Chung Eui-sun was listed as the fourth-richest person in Korea.

Others in the top tier of the list included Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin, SK chairman Chey Tae-won, Lotte Japan vice president Shin Dong-joo, AmorePacific Corp. chairman Suh Kyung-bae and CJ Group chairman Lee Jay-hyun ― with total wealth at 2.39 trillion won, 2.37 trillion won, 2.24 trillion won, 2.18 trillion won and 2 trillion won, respectively.

According to Chaebul.com, there were only six self-made rich people ― or about 20 percent of the 400 individuals on the list ― who accumulated their wealth without the benefit of large inheritances.

Among the self-made wealthy, Kim Jung-ju, chairman of holding company NXC who also founded Korea’s largest gaming company Nexon, ranked first with his total net assets amounting to 1.9 trillion won.

A stock broker turned financial mogul, Mirae Asset Securities chairman Park Hyeon-ju also made the list of the self-made wealthy with a net worth of about 1.3 trillion won.

The individuals’ private assets were calculated based on the total value of their real estate properties, personal holdings, company stocks and dividends, said Chaebul.com.

By Kwon Bum-joon (bjkwon@heraldcorp.com)