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Lee Boo-jin

Lee Boo-jin

L. Boo-jin
0.01% | + $0.87M
$8.68 B ₹ 81,248 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #390 Ranking as of 21 Mar 2026 By Forbes

More on Lee Boo-jin

Gender

Female

Age

56Y

Country

South Korea

Born On

January, 1970

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Divorced

Children

1

Education

Yonsei University - BA In Child Studies

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited

Primary Organization

Hotel Shilla

Titles

President & CEO

Sources of Wealth

Samsung, Hotel Shilla

Industry

Hospitality, Retail, Duty-Free

About Lee Boo-jin


L ee Boo-jin is a prominent South Korean businesswoman and a member of the founding family of the Samsung Group, one of the world's largest conglomerates. She is the eldest daughter of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee. Often referred to by the media as "Little Kun-hee" for her business acumen and resemblance to her father, she has carved out a powerful role for herself within the family empire. She serves as the president and CEO of Hotel Shilla, a luxury hotel and duty-free retail chain that is an affiliate of the Samsung Group.

Lee Boo-jin joined Samsung in 1995 and has been credited with the significant growth and international expansion of the Hotel Shilla brand. Under her leadership, the company has become one of the world's largest duty-free operators, strategically expanding its presence in airports across Asia. Following her father's death in 2020, she and her siblings inherited a multi-billion dollar fortune, which also came with one of the largest inheritance tax bills in history. She is considered one of South Korea's most powerful and wealthiest women, navigating both the complexities of her family's business and a high-profile divorce.

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Quick Reads


  • President and CEO of Hotel Shilla, a luxury hotel and duty-free operator.
  • Eldest daughter of the late Samsung Group chairman, Lee Kun-hee.
  • Her brother, Jay Y. Lee, is the executive chairman of Samsung Electronics.
  • Credited with growing Hotel Shilla into one of the world's largest duty-free retailers.
  • Inherited a multi-billion dollar stake in Samsung affiliates after her father's death.
  • Considered one of the most powerful businesswomen in South Korea.

Early Life and Background


Lee Boo-jin is a South Korean businesswoman, the billionaire President and CEO of Hotel Shilla (KRX: 002330), one of South Korea's leading luxury hotel and duty-free operators. Her wealth is generational, tied to the Samsung Group empire, founded by her grandfather, Lee Byung-Chull, and built by her father, Lee Kun-hee (d. 2020).

Lee graduated from Yonsei University with a B.A. in Children's Studies. Her career is defined by generational stewardship and executive leadership in the hospitality and retail sectors. Her structural role is tied to managing the family's assets outside the core Samsung Electronics business, focusing on luxury brand management and global tourism.

  • Hotel Shilla (President & CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a major operator of luxury hotels and duty-free retail (including the Shilla Duty Free chain).
  • Family Heritage: She is the eldest daughter of the late Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-hee.
  • Succession: She and her siblings inherited a massive stake in the Samsung Group after their father's death (settling a $10 billion+ inheritance tax bill).
  • Global Retail: Her company's duty-free division is a major force in the global travel retail market.

Career Journey of Lee Boo-jin


Lee Boo-jin's strategic leadership transformed Hotel Shilla into a global luxury brand. She joined the company in 1995 and quickly rose to President and CEO. Her structural contribution is tied to the aggressive expansion and modernization of the Shilla Duty Free chain, which is a major pillar of South Korea's tourism revenue.

Under her guidance, Hotel Shilla successfully navigated market volatility (including geopolitical and pandemic crises) and maintained its reputation for high-end hospitality. Her wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the luxury hospitality and travel retail sectors and her substantial inherited stake in the Samsung Group.

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Lee Boo-jin's Timeline


1995:

Joins Samsung Group's executive and management structure (Corporate Entry).

2010:

Appointed President and CEO of Hotel Shilla (Executive Ascent).

2020 (October):

Her father, Lee Kun-hee, passes away; Lee Boo-jin inherits her stake (Succession).

Ongoing:

Continues as President and CEO, guiding the hotel and duty-free giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Lee Boo-jin's wealth is concentrated in her family's stake and executive leadership of the publicly traded hospitality giant, Hotel Shilla (KRX: 002330), and her inherited stakes in Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T.

  • Hotel Shilla (President & CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a major operator of luxury hotels and duty-free retail (including the Shilla Duty Free chain).
  • Family Heritage: She is the eldest daughter of the late Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-hee.
  • Succession: She and her siblings inherited a massive stake in the Samsung Group after their father's death (settling a $10 billion+ inheritance tax bill).
  • Global Retail: Her company's duty-free division is a major force in the global travel retail market.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Lee Boo-jin's social impact is structural, stemming from Hotel Shilla's role as a massive employer and foundational provider of luxury hospitality and duty-free retail services for global tourists. Her companies contribute significantly to South Korea's tourism revenue.

Her personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives. Her structural contribution is tied to the successful generational transition of the Samsung chaebol and her role in modernizing the luxury hospitality sector.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Lee Boo-jin maintains the professional, elegant style of a corporate executive. Her attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. Her aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global hospitality and luxury sectors.

Residing in Seoul, South Korea, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to hospitality management, luxury brand stewardship, and corporate governance.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • She is the President and CEO of Hotel Shilla (luxury hotels and duty-free retail).
  • She is the eldest daughter of the late Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-hee.
  • Her company's duty-free division is a major force in global travel retail.
  • She and her siblings faced a $10 billion+ inheritance tax bill.
  • She holds a B.A. in Children's Studies from Yonsei University.
  • Her ex-husband was a former Samsung bodyguard (a relationship that caused family controversy).
  • Her wealth is tied to the successful generational management of the Samsung chaebol.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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