Son of Samsung chief assigned to Navy mine unit as interpreter officer

From right, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, his son Lee Jee-ho, and Hong Ra-hee, honorary director of the Leeum Museum of Art pose at the son's naval officer commissioning ceremony at the Naval Academy in the southeastern city of Changwon, Nov. 28, 2025. Yonhap

The son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been assigned to the Navy's mine and amphibious unit to serve as an interpreter officer, the Navy said Sunday.

Ensign Lee Jee-ho will serve as an interpreter officer at the information and strategy staff officer's office at the Mine/Amphibious Flotilla Five, the Navy said.

His responsibilities include providing interpretation between commanders during joint military drills with foreign forces, according to naval officials.

Lee was among 89 new Navy and Marine Corps officers officially commissioned in a ceremony at the Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in November.

He was born in the United States in 2000 and held dual citizenship in both Korea and the U.S., but he renounced his U.S. citizenship to fulfill his military duty as a Korean citizen.