Samsung chairman's son gives up US citizenship to serve as ROK Navy officer

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center in Seoul to depart for the United States, Aug. 24. Yonhap

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong's eldest son has relinquished his U.S. citizenship to fulfill his mandatory military service required for all able-bodied Korean men.

Starting Monday, the 24-year-old will begin 11 weeks of basic military training at the Republic of Korea Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in order to become a navy officer serving for 39 months.

"Lee Jee-ho gave up his U.S. citizenship to fulfill his obligation to serve in the military," Samsung Electronics said Wednesday. "He will be commissioned as an ensign on Dec. 1."

It remains unclear whether the son will join Samsung after completing his military duty. In 2020, the chairman vowed not to hand over control of the conglomerate to his children.

Born in New York in 2000 to the chairman and his now-divorced wife, Daesang Group Vice Chairwoman Lim Se-ryung, the younger Lee held dual citizenship by birth.

His recent decision has surprised many, particularly because his father and most other male descendants of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull — including CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun and Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin — were exempt from military service due to medical or other reasons.

Had the Samsung chairman's son relinquished his Korean citizenship, he would have been exempt from military service. He also could have retained dual citizenship by opting to join the Korean military as an enlisted soldier.

In contrast, Lotte Group Vice President Shin Yoo-yeol, the eldest son of Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin, secured the right to acquire Korean citizenship without serving in the Korean military, as the Japanese national turned 38 last year.

However, more young heirs from Korea's major family-controlled conglomerates have recently chosen to fulfill their mandatory military service as a way to avoid public criticism over perceived privilege.

Kolon Group Vice Chairman Lee Kyu-ho served in the Republic of Korea Army and later relinquished his U.S. citizenship. Chey Min-jung, the second-oldest daughter of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, served as a Republic of Korea Navy officer, despite military service not being mandatory for women in Korea.

Chung Hae-chan, the Shinsegae chairman's eldest son, joined the ROK Army in 2021 — unlike his father.