By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Lee Jae-yong, the only son of former Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, canceled a round of golf scheduled with Korean golf star Choi Kyoung-ju in the United States, due to a divorce suit filed by his wife, Lim Se-ryong, 32.
Lee was supposed to participate in the PGA TOUR golf championship, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, supported by AT&T Mobile and Apple, Samsung's main client in the U.S. He was reported to return to Korea soon.
According to court officials, Lim filed for a legal termination of their marriage with the Seoul Family Court. Lim, the eldest daughter of the Daesang Group's owner, demanded a split of the couple' wealth, amounting to some 500 billion won ($400 million) and alimony of 1 billion won. Lim also wanted to retain custody of their two children ― a daughter and son.
Lee has an estimated wealth of billions of dollars as the heir-designate of Lee Kun-hee. The junior Lee, together with his father, has a controlling stake through cross-stock ownership of nearly 60 Samsung affiliates.
Reasons behind Lim's divorce suit were unknown. Their June 1998 marriage was depicted as one between two corporate royal families but since then they have rarely been seen together.