Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee is set to further cement his control over South Korea’s largest conglomerate after his mother agreed to transfer her entire stake in Samsung C&T, the group’s effective holding company.
Samsung C&T said Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Leeum Museum of Art and a prominent figure in the Samsung founding family, signed an agreement on Nov.
28 to gift all 1,808,577 shares she owns to her son. The transfer—representing roughly 1% of the company—will be completed on Jan. 2, the company said.
Lee currently holds a 19.76% stake in Samsung C&T. Following the transfer, his ownership will rise to 20.82%, while Hong will no longer hold any shares in the conglomerate’s top-tier entity.
Samsung C&T sits at the center of Samsung’s governance structure. The company controls Samsung Life Insurance, a major financial arm that in turn owns a significant stake in Samsung Electronics.
That chain of ownership gives Samsung C&T considerable influence across the group’s electronics, insurance, construction and trading businesses.
The latest share transfer further consolidates Lee’s authority over the conglomerate at a time when Samsung is navigating heightened global competition in semiconductors, smartphones and advanced manufacturing.
Strengthening Lee’s stake in Samsung C&T also reduces uncertainty around long-term leadership succession—an issue closely watched by investors and corporate-governance analysts.
