By Kang Seung-woo
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee sat atop the Forbes list of the 50 wealthiest Koreans, Thursday, for the ninth straight year. The annual report also welcomed three newcomers.
According to the U.S. business magazine, the 75-year-old tycoon's net worth was $16.8 billion (19 trillion won) as his wealth rose by $4.2 billion over the past year mainly thanks to an over-60-percent spike in Samsung Electronics' stock price. Its shares have continued to hit record highs, with its market capitalization topping 300 trillion won.
AmorePacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae remained second although his wealth shrank $1.7 billion to $6.7 billion due to China's economic retaliation, triggered by the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here.
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and the only son of the bed-ridden Samsung Chairman Lee, came in third with $6.2 billion which remained flat for the year, followed by Smilegate Holdings CEO Kwon Hyuk-bin with $6.1 billion. Smilegate is an online gaming company.
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo rounded out the top five with $4.5 billion, down from $4.8 billion a year earlier.
Notable mentions in the list included No. 6 SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at $3.6 billion; No. 26 Chung Mong-joon, a former chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries, at $1.3 billion; and No. 34 Naver founder Lee Hae-jin at $1.12 billion.
Among the 50 richest, Kim Bom, CEO of Coupang, the nation's leading e-commerce player, was the youngest at 38, while Hankook Tire Chairman Cho Yang-rai was the oldest at 79. Kim ranked 41st with $950 million and Cho was at 35th with $1.08 billion.
Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin, whose net worth was $1.66 billion, was the richest woman, followed by Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun at $1.55 billion. Both are daughters of the Samsung chairman.
New to the list are Netmarble Games founder Bang Jun-hyuk at 24th with $1.43 billion; Ham Young-Joon of instant food giant Ottogi at 47th with $725 million; and Hyosung President Cho Hyun-sang at 49th with $700 million.
According to Forbes, the list was compiled using information obtained from the individuals, stock exchanges, analysts, private databases, government agencies and other sources.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee sat atop the Forbes list of the 50 wealthiest Koreans, Thursday, for the ninth straight year. The annual report also welcomed three newcomers.
According to the U.S. business magazine, the 75-year-old tycoon's net worth was $16.8 billion (19 trillion won) as his wealth rose by $4.2 billion over the past year mainly thanks to an over-60-percent spike in Samsung Electronics' stock price. Its shares have continued to hit record highs, with its market capitalization topping 300 trillion won.
AmorePacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae remained second although his wealth shrank $1.7 billion to $6.7 billion due to China's economic retaliation, triggered by the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here.
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and the only son of the bed-ridden Samsung Chairman Lee, came in third with $6.2 billion which remained flat for the year, followed by Smilegate Holdings CEO Kwon Hyuk-bin with $6.1 billion. Smilegate is an online gaming company.
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo rounded out the top five with $4.5 billion, down from $4.8 billion a year earlier.
Notable mentions in the list included No. 6 SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at $3.6 billion; No. 26 Chung Mong-joon, a former chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries, at $1.3 billion; and No. 34 Naver founder Lee Hae-jin at $1.12 billion.
Among the 50 richest, Kim Bom, CEO of Coupang, the nation's leading e-commerce player, was the youngest at 38, while Hankook Tire Chairman Cho Yang-rai was the oldest at 79. Kim ranked 41st with $950 million and Cho was at 35th with $1.08 billion.
Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin, whose net worth was $1.66 billion, was the richest woman, followed by Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun at $1.55 billion. Both are daughters of the Samsung chairman.
New to the list are Netmarble Games founder Bang Jun-hyuk at 24th with $1.43 billion; Ham Young-Joon of instant food giant Ottogi at 47th with $725 million; and Hyosung President Cho Hyun-sang at 49th with $700 million.
According to Forbes, the list was compiled using information obtained from the individuals, stock exchanges, analysts, private databases, government agencies and other sources.
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