Lee Jay-hyun
Lee Jay-hyun | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 19, 1960 |
| Education | Korea University (BA) |
| Alma mater | Kyungbock High School |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of CJ Group |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Lee Byung-chul (grandfather) Lee Kun-hee (uncle) Lee Myung-hee (aunt) Lee Jae-yong (cousin) Lee Boo-jin (cousin) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이재현 |
| Hanja | 李在賢 |
| Revised Romanization | I Jaehyeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | I Chaehyŏn |
Lee Jay-hyun (Korean: 이재현; born March 19, 1960) is a South Korean businessman. He is the chairman of the CJ Group.[1]
As of December 2024[update], Forbes estimates his net worth at US$1.24 billion, making him the 27th richest person in South Korea.[2]
Biography
[edit]Lee was born in 1960 as the eldest grandson of the late Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul. His father, Lee Maeng-hee, was the eldest son of Lee Byung-chul who was pushed out of competition in a power struggle with his younger brother and late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee.[1]
Lee went to Kyungbock High School and received his bachelor's degree from Korea University.[3] He started his career at Citibank in 1983, and joined the family business at CheilJedang in 1985 at the request of his grandfather. He briefly held positions at Samsung Electronics before taking over the helm of CJ Group in the late 1990s after it was spun off from Samsung Group.[1] He is credited for turning the company into the South Korea's 13th-largest conglomerate.[1]
In 2014, Lee was sentenced to jail for four years and a fine of 26 billion won for tax evasion and embezzlement.[4] He was pardoned by South Korean President Park Geun-hye in 2016.[5][6]
In 2021, his net worth was estimated by Forbes as US$1.34 billion, making him the country's 37th richest person.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Lee married Kim Heui-jae in 1984 and has one son, Lee Sun-ho, and one daughter, Lee Kyeong-hoo, both of whom graduated from Columbia University.[8][9] He endowed the Lee Family Scholarship at Columbia College.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Lee Jay-hyun turns CJ into conglomerate". The Korea Times. November 15, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Lee Jay-hyun". Forbes. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
- ^ "The Investor". www.theinvestor.co.kr. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ 김, 은정 (August 12, 2016). "CJ to step up global expansion following chairman's release". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "South Korea pardons CJ Group chairman, 4,875 others, to mark holiday". Reuters. August 12, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ He-suk, Choi (August 12, 2016). "CJ Group chairman Lee Jay-pardoned". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Lee Jay-hyun". Forbes. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Lee Sun-ho back to work at CJ CheilJedang". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 18, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "CJ heirs promoted amid leadership vacuum". The Korea Herald. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Fees, Expenses, and Financial Aid < Columbia College | Columbia University". bulletin.columbia.edu. Retrieved March 8, 2022.