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Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 A son overlooked and a jailed tycoon: Inside Samsung's succession drama

The family dynasty behind Samsung is so complicated it regularly makes headline news in South Korea.
Lee Jae-yong had been groomed for three decades to take over as chairman of Samsung, but his succession was not without controversy. His father, Lee Kun-hee, had previously resigned in 2008 after a former Samsung lawyer turned whistle-blower claimed knowledge of a slush fund used for bribes and political payoffs. In 2012, Lee Jae-yong's uncle launched a bid to reclaim what he saw as his rightful inheritance, threatening the plan for the next generation. The sibling dispute ultimately led to a clear line of succession being established by Lee Kun-hee, with his son Lee Jae-yong set to take charge after his father's heart attack. However, Lee Jae-yong's leadership was soon marred by controversy, including allegations of bribery and fraud related to the merger deal. He was eventually cleared in 2025, but not before spending several years in prison and undergoing a decade of court hearings and charges. In a departure from South Korea's chaebol tradition, where family members often automatically inherit leadership roles, Lee Jae-yong indicated that he would break with this custom by not handing over managerial rights to his children. The question now is who will succeed him as chairman of Samsung.