By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s stockholdings surpassed 10 trillion won or $8.9 billion, an online chaebol watcher said Sunday.
``Samsung Chairman Lee’s stocks were worth 10.1 trillion won as of last week,’’ Chaebul.com said in a statement.
Lee has retained his status as the richest man in Korea.
``The rise was due to the value of stocks of Samsung Electronics, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung C&T,’’ it said.
Lee holds a 3.38 percent stake in Samsung Electronics, the world’s biggest technology company, 20.76 percent in Samsung Life Insurance and 1.37 percent of Samsung C&T, it said.
Last week, Samsung Electronics closed at a record high of 1.23 million won per share, while Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung C&T finished at 91,400 won and 75,700 won, respectively.
The value of stock holdings by Lee surpassed 1 trillion won at the end of 2002 and soared to 9 trillion won as of May 2010 as Samsung Life Insurance was listed on the nation’s major stock market.
The value of stock held by Hong Ra-hee, Lee’s wife, rose to 1.33 trillion won. Samsung Electronics Chief Operating Officer Lee Jay-yong _ the chairman’s only son _ owns 1.03 trillion won worth of shares, Chaebul.com said.