Silver spoons at sea: Why Korea’s chaebol heirs choose the Navy
Navy officer Lee Jee-ho, center, is seen with his father Lee Jae-yong, right, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, and his grandmother Hong Ra-hee, director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, during the commissioning ceremony held at the Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 28. Yonhap
Moon Keun-sik
Headlines about SK Group outside the business pages in recent years have usually been about Chairman Chey Tae-won’s highly publicized and contentious divorce from his wife, Roh So-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi and the daughter of late President Roh Tae-woo.
Just as the Korean public grew weary of the high-profile couple’s prolonged legal battles, another news about the conglomerate centered on the couple’s second daughter, Chey Min-jung.
Chey drew significant media attention for an unexpected decision: She joined the Navy as an officer. In South Korea, military service is mandatory for all able-bodied men, but not for women. Her voluntary enlistment became the talk of the town, drawing sustained public interest until her discharge in 2017.
This year, another scion of a family-run conglomerate, or chaebol, captured the spotlight for a similar choice. Lee Jee-ho, the son of Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, made headlines on Nov. 28 during a commissioning ceremony at the Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Representing hundreds of newly commissioned officers, Lee took the oath of service before his family and invited guests. His tanned face and resolute voice reflected the intensity of the 11 weeks of training — rigorous enough to transform a young man born with a silver spoon into a disciplined officer. Video clips of the ceremony quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion.
The decisions by these two chaebol heirs to join the Navy have fueled a broader conversation about Korea’s military culture. Why did they choose the Navy over the Army or the Air Force? What makes the Navy particularly appealing?
This is not merely about fulfilling military obligations. Rather, it signals a shift in how Korea’s elite perceive and select military service. The choices made by children of conglomerate families often function as a barometer of the prevailing zeitgeist and evolving values within the upper class.
First and foremost, the Navy symbolizes globalization. Compared with land-centered operations, naval service places greater emphasis on diplomacy, joint operations and international engagement. Through long distance deployments, multinational exercises, and overseas port visits, naval officers routinely interact with foreign counterparts, gaining firsthand exposure to the global maritime order and international norms. These experiences foster the image of naval officers as "international gentlemen" — a perception that aligns closely with the values of elite families who prize diplomatic finesse and global etiquette.
In traditional naval powers such as the United Kingdom and the United States, it is not uncommon for children of aristocratic families or political and business elites to serve as naval officers. Members of the British royal family and heirs of prominent American political and business dynasties have long chosen the Navy, reflecting its enduring reputation as a training ground for global leadership forged at sea.
Another factor that may have influenced the choices of chaebol heirs is the changing social image of Korea’s military institutions. In recent years, the Army has been embroiled in repeated political controversies and organizational challenges which have taken a toll on its public standing. Issues related to soldiers’ rights, problematic remarks and issues with leadership accountability have fueled criticism that political considerations are increasingly overshadowing the core principles of military professionalism.
By contrast, the Navy has largely remained insulated from such controversies, preserving a stable organizational culture centered on professionalism and international cooperation. This distinction naturally leads chaebol families, who tend to weigh service conditions carefully and consider long-term implications, to view the Navy favorably.
For chaebol offspring, serving as a naval officer can therefore be seen not merely as the fulfillment of an honorable duty, but as an opportunity to accumulate skills and experience essential for future business leadership. In today’s global business environment where collaboration with international clients, partners, and governments is indispensable, international awareness, organizational management capability and crisis leadership are critical assets.
Naval service offers hands-on exposure to complex operational planning, coordination among diverse teams and sustained interaction with foreign counterparts, allowing these competencies to develop organically. For heirs expected to one day lead major corporations or expand global networks, such experience constitutes invaluable real-world training.
The image of naval officers themselves further reinforces this appeal. A disciplined lifestyle, a relatively clean organizational culture and the openness inherent to the maritime domain have combined to shape a public perception of a “service of dignity.” Experiencing the world, learning leadership under strict discipline and cultivating international sensibilities resonate strongly with the values long embraced by chaebol families.
This is neither a symbolic gesture nor a performative choice. Rather, it represents a rational and strategic decision aligned with the evolving demands of the era.
Ultimately, the decision by second-or third-generation heirs to choose the Navy reflects a broader transformation within Korean society. Whereas Army service was once regarded as the standard and unquestioned path, military service that fosters international competitiveness and future-oriented capabilities is now gaining greater recognition. For the next generation of elites, the Navy is no longer merely an alternative — it is increasingly perceived as the optimal choice.
This trend underscores both the rising stature of the Republic of Korea Navy and a fundamental shift in the values of Korea’s elite.
The decision to serve in the Navy is not simply about fulfilling military duty; it is a strategic choice aimed at cultivating international sensibility and responsible leadership. Their choices quietly reveal the direction of the new leadership Korean society now demands.
Ret. Navy Capt. Moon Keun-sik is an adjunct professor of public policy at Hanyang University, Seoul.