Samsung heiress Lee Boo-jin cheers on SNU-bound son at graduation
Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin, right, and her son, Im Dong-hyun, enter the Lee Kun-hee Collection gala at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., Jan. 28. Joint Press Corps
Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin was spotted cheering for her son, Im Dong-hyun, at his high school graduation in Seoul on Monday, capping off a week in which the teenager made headlines for his admission to the country's top university.
Lee attended the ceremony at the prestigious Whimoon High School in Gangnam District on Monday. She was accompanied by her aunt, Hong Ra-young, the former deputy director of the Samsung Museum of Art.
The event offered a rare glimpse into the private life of the Samsung heiress. Lee was seen smiling throughout the ceremony and singing along as her son, the front man of the school band, performed on stage. Im belted out Korean rock anthems — including "Never Ending Story" by Boohwal and "To You" by Muhangwedo — to celebrate the graduating class.
Following the performance, Lee presented her son with flowers, offering warm congratulations. Yet, in a moment capturing the burden of her high profile, she was subsequently overheard apologizing as the crowd and flashing cameras created a commotion around him during their photo session.
Im graduated with top honors, receiving the Principal’s Award, the Gangnam District Office Award and a scholarship from the Whimoon Foundation.
The main gate of Whimoon High School in Gangnam District, Seoul / Korea Times photo by Lee Seung-yeop
The graduation comes just months after Im was accepted into Seoul National University’s Department of Economics through the highly competitive early admission process for the 2026 academic year. The university is widely considered the most prestigious in Korea.
Im recently drew public attention in his own right. On Feb. 3, he served as a guest speaker at a cram school in Daechi-dong, Seoul’s elite private education hub. Addressing incoming high school freshmen, he shared his uncompromising strategy for academic success.
"It will be difficult, but I strongly recommend completely cutting off smartphones and games for three years," Im told the students. "The joy you taste after three years, on the day all exams are over, is quite rewarding."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.