Korean tycoons add $25bn in stock wealth in one year

(Korea CXO Research Institute)

The combined stock valuation of the heads of South Korea’s 45 major business groups rose by more than 35.4 trillion won ($24.5 billion), with Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Jay Y. Lee ranking first.

According to an analysis released Monday by the Korea CXO Research Institute, the total stock value held by the heads of 45 groups climbed to 93.3 trillion won as of January 2, 2026, from 57.9 trillion won as of January 2, 2025.

That represents an increase of 35.46 trillion won, or 61.3 percent, over the one-year period.

The analysis examined 45 group heads whose stock valuations exceeded 100 billion won among 92 conglomerates designated as large business groups by the Korea Fair Trade Commission last year.

Of those surveyed, 41 executives, or 91.1 percent, recorded gains in stock value.

Jay Y. Lee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics.

Samsung’s Lee posted the largest increase in stock wealth during the period.

The value of his stock holdings stood at about 11.9 trillion won at the start of last year, surpassed 20 trillion won in October, and reached 25.9 trillion won in early January.

The gains were driven by increases of more than 1 trillion won each in his holdings of Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T Corp., and Samsung Life Insurance Co.

Most notably, the value of Lee’s Samsung Electronics stake surged by more than 7.32 trillion won, rising from roughly 5.2 trillion won to 12.52 trillion won over the year.

Lee’s holdings in Samsung C&T shares also increased by more than 4.9 trillion won, partly reflecting the addition of 1,808,577 shares he received as a gift from his mother, Hong Ra-hee, honorary director of the Leeum Museum of Art, on Friday.

The institute said that if Samsung Electronics shares rise to the 170,000 to 180,000 won range, Korea could see its first individual with stock holdings exceeding 30 trillion won.

Celltrion Inc. Chairman Seo Jung-jin ranked second in terms of absolute gains.

Seo’s stock valuation increased by about 3.3 trillion won, rising from 10.4 trillion won at the start of last year to 13.7 trillion won at the beginning of this year.

Kakao Corp. Founder and Future Initiative Center head Kim Beom-su and Chung Mong-joon, the largest shareholder of HD Hyundai Co. and chairman of the Asan Foundation, also saw their stock wealth grow by more than 2 trillion won over the past year.

Hybe Co. Board Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, Hyundai Motor Chairman Euisun Chung, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, and Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon each recorded increases of more than 1 trillion won in stock wealth during the same period.

By growth rate, the biggest gainer was Wonik Chairman Lee Yong-han.

Lee’s stock valuation jumped 503.7 percent, rising from 129.7 billion won at the start of last year to 783.2 billion won at the start of this year.

Lee holds shares in Wonik Holdings Co., Wonik QnC Corp., and Wonik Cube Corp. Analysts attributed the sharp increase largely to Wonik Holdings’ stock price, which surged 1,595.7 percent from 2,810 won to 47,650 won over the year, based on closing prices.