Equity wealth among South Korea’s richest individuals swelled dramatically this year, driven by robust gains in major listed companies, with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong solidifying his position at the apex of the nation’s shareholder hierarchy.
The combined value of shares held by the country’s top 100 individual stockholders surged by nearly 64%, or about $53 billion, over the past year to approximately $136 billion, according to data released Tuesday by corporate tracker CEO Score. The increase highlights the concentrated nature of South Korea’s market wealth, heavily anchored in its family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebols, while also pointing to significant gains in sectors like biotechnology and entertainment.
Mr. Lee, the de facto leader of the Samsung Group, saw the value of his stock holdings climb by roughly $8.7 billion to an estimated $18 billion as of mid-December. The increase was propelled by rising share prices of key holdings, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, and Samsung Life Insurance. His stake in the flagship Samsung Electronics alone nearly doubled in value to about $8 billion. Mr. Lee’s wealth is poised for a further step-change early next year through a planned transfer of his mother’s entire stake in Samsung C&T.
The rankings underscore the enduring grip of founding families on the nation’s corporate landscape. Following Meritz Financial Group Chairman Cho Jung-ho in second place, three other members of the Samsung founding family—matriarch Hong Ra-hee, Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin, and Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun—rounded out the top five.
The list also reveals the ascent of self-made entrepreneurs in high-growth industries. Alteogen CEO Park Soon-jae ranked eighth, with holdings worth about $3.5 billion, while Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, placed tenth with roughly $3.2 billion. Twenty new entrants joined the top-100 list this year, many from biotechnology, robotics, and defense sectors.
In a sign of shifting demographics among the wealthy, members of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS appeared among the top shareholders under the age of 30. Members Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, through their stakes in Hybe, were listed in the junior ranking, which saw its combined share value jump 48% this year to about $1.9 billion. Nevertheless, the very top tier of young shareholders—all heirs to major business groups with stakes exceeding $77 million—illustrates that inherited wealth still dominates at the highest echelons.
Market analysts say the data paints a picture of a stock market where wealth generation remains closely tied to the fortunes of a few sprawling industrial groups and the country’s emergent champions in technology and soft power. “The concentration highlights both the market’s strength and a persistent structural characteristic,” said one Seoul-based analyst. “The notable entry of younger figures from the entertainment sector, however, points to new sources of wealth aligning with South Korea’s cultural export success.”
