L ee Jay-hyun is the chairman of South Korea's CJ Group, a massive conglomerate with a dominant presence in food, entertainment, and logistics. He is the grandson of Lee Byung-chul, the founder of the original Samsung Group. CJ Group, initially CheilJedang, began as the sugar and flour manufacturing arm of Samsung but was spun off in the 1990s as part of the succession plan for the Samsung founder's heirs. Lee Jay-hyun took the helm and embarked on an ambitious mission to transform the traditional food company into a global lifestyle and entertainment powerhouse.
Under his leadership, CJ Group has become a cultural force. Its entertainment arm, CJ E&M, is a leader in the Korean Wave, producing hit K-pop music, television shows, and films, including the Oscar-winning movie "Parasite." The group's logistics company, CJ Logistics, is one of the largest in Korea, and its food division, CJ CheilJedang, has expanded globally. Lee's career has also been marred by controversy; he was convicted of tax evasion and embezzlement in 2014 but was later given a presidential pardon. He has since returned to lead the group, focusing on its global expansion.
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Lee Jay-hyun is a South Korean businessman, the billionaire Chairman of the Board of CJ Group (KRX: 001040), a major conglomerate spanning food and food service, entertainment (CJ ENM), pharmaceuticals, and home shopping. His wealth is generational, tied to the empire founded by his grandfather, Lee Byung-Chull (the founder of Samsung).
Lee is the eldest grandson of the Samsung founder and the son of Lee Maeng-hee. His career is defined by generational stewardship and strategic growth of the diversified CJ Group (which was spun off from Samsung in the 1990s). He holds a B.A. in Sociology from Korea University.
Lee Jay-hyun's strategic leadership transformed CJ Group into a global entertainment and food service giant. The company's structural contribution is tied to its role in pioneering K-Content (Korean media) globally through CJ ENM (producing K-dramas, films, and music events). He successfully led the spin-off and growth of the CJ Group (originally the sugar and flour division of Samsung).
His career faced a major crisis in the 2010s when he was arrested and charged with embezzlement and tax evasion (and subsequently convicted in 2017). He stepped down as Chairman during his trial but returned in a less operational capacity. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the food, logistics, and global entertainment sectors.
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Joins the Samsung Group's executive and management structure (Corporate Entry).
CJ Group is formally spun off from Samsung (Founding).
Formally becomes Chairman of the CJ Group (Executive Ascent).
Convicted of embezzlement and tax evasion (Legal Crisis).
Continues as Chairman of the Board, guiding the diversified conglomerate (Executive Oversight).
Lee Jay-hyun's wealth is concentrated in his family's controlling stake and executive leadership of the publicly traded conglomerate, CJ Group (KRX: 001040).
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Lee Jay-hyun's social impact is structural, stemming from CJ Group's role as a massive global employer and foundational provider of food, logistics, and entertainment services (including the global K-Content phenomenon). His structural contribution is tied to the successful development and globalization of the Korean entertainment industry.
His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives. His career is often cited for illustrating the high-stakes nature of chaebol governance and the legal scrutiny faced by executives.
Lee Jay-hyun maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the South Korean chaebol system.
Residing in Seoul, South Korea, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, entertainment production, and the long-term stewardship of the CJ Group empire.
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-0.14% | -$11.17M
-0.02% | -$3.19M
This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:
All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.
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