TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The surge of artificial intelligence has proven transformative not only for the broader public, but also for the richest Koreans, whose fortunes have expanded at an extraordinary pace. Recent reports indicate that the combined net worth of the nation’s 50 richest figures has climbed to a record $175 billion, marking a remarkable 77% increase from $99 billion just a year earlier.
According to Forbes, this sharp rise is largely underpinned by sustained demand for semiconductors tailored to the rapidly evolving AI sector.
List of the Richest Korean
Samsung Electronics executive chairperson, Jay Y. Lee pioneered the list of richest Koreans in today’s industrial demesne. His $21.6 billion net worth is followed by:
1. Jay Y. Lee – $21.6 billion (Samsung Electronics)
Reclaiming the top position, Jay Y. Lee rises back to No. 1 after slipping in the previous year. As executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chipmaker by sales, he has capitalized on the sector’s renewed momentum. Still, Lee and his family remain engaged in settling a substantial inheritance tax bill amounting to 12 trillion won (approximately $8.5 billion) stemming from the 2020 passing of Lee Kun-hee.
2. Michael Kim – $9.9 billion (MBK Partners)
The second richest Korean, Michael Kim, retains a formidable presence. He cofounded MBK Partners, a Seoul-based firm, which manages more than $33 billion in assets. Despite recent headwinds, including Homeplus entering corporate rehabilitation, MBK has demonstrated resilience. In October, the firm successfully raised $5.5 billion for an Asia-focused buyout fund.
3. Seo Jung-jin – $8.1 billion (Celltrion)
As a cofounder of Celltrion who helps develop treatments for cancer, influenza, and rheumatoid arthritis, Seo Jung-jon is remarkably noted among the biggest gainers. His wealth surged by nearly $2 billion over the past year driven by an aggressive expansion strategy. In January, the company reportedly secured a $330 million deal to acquire a U.S. manufacturing facility from Eli Lilly, and in March, it unveiled plans to invest more than $800 million to expand its domestic production capacity.
4. Cho Jung-ho – $8 billion (Meritz Financial Group)
The chair of Meritz Financial Group tells a compelling story of second-generation success, having outpaced his brothers’ endeavors in the industry. Even as the youngest of the family, his firm’s value has expanded significantly since its separation from Hanjin Group in 2005. This sustained growth has reinforced his position as one of the richest Koreans who are formidable figures in the country’s financial sector.
5. Lee Boo-jin – $7.9 billion (Hotel Shilla)
While there’s a pronounced gap in wealth between Lee Boo-jin and her brother Jay Y. Lee, her reputation as the "little Kun-hee" was enunciated through her sharp business acumen. At the helm of Hotel Shilla, she oversees one of Seoul’s leading hospitality and conference operators, which also ranks among the country’s largest duty-free enterprises. As the eldest daughter of Lee Kun-hee, she also shares the family's wealth with mother Hong Ra-hee, sister Lee Seo-hyun and brother Jay Y. Lee.
6. Lee Seo-hyun – $7.5 billion (Leeum Samsung Museum of Art)
Another member of the Samsung Electronics dynasty is steadily carving out her own identity on South Korea’s rich list. Lee Seo-hyun distinguishes herself from her siblings by channeling her focus into the fashion world, while also serving as chair of the advisory board at the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art.
She both developed the casualwear label Bean Pole and spearheaded the 2011 acquisition of Italian luxury house Colombo via della Spiga. Her creative ambitions extended further in 2014, when she joined forces with YG Entertainment to launch the streetwear brand Nonagon.
7. Mong Koo-chung – $7.3 billion (Hyundai Motor)
Widely known by the nickname “bulldozer,” Chung Mong-koo rose into the ranks of the richest Koreans largely through inheritance. He led Hyundai Motor, the nation’s largest carmaker, for more than two decades. His tenure was marked by a bold and unyielding leadership style, which played a pivotal role in accelerating the company’s global expansion.
8. Hong Ra-hee – $7.1 billion (Samsung Electronics)
As the matriarch of the Samsung Electronics heirs, Hong Ra-hee is deeply rooted in one of South Korea’s most influential families. She hails from a powerful media lineage, with her father once at the helm of JoongAng Ilbo. This influence extends beyond the media, as her brother Hong Seok-joh now presides over one of the country’s largest convenience store empires.
9. Eiusun Chung – $6.3 billion (Hyundai Motor)
As the sole heir to the Hyundai Motor Group empire, Euisun Chung assumed the chairmanship in 2020 following his father’s retirement. Well before taking the helm, he had already distinguished himself at Kia, where he served as president from 2005 to 2009 and drove the brand’s growth at a pace that surpassed its parent company. Beyond the corporate sphere, he also holds the presidency of World Archery Asia.
10. Yoon Dae-in – $5.9 billion (Sam Chun Dang Pharm)
Among the richest Koreans, Yoon Dae-in stands out for his growing influence in the biotech sector. As chairman of Sam Chun Dang Pharm, he oversees a firm focused on producing key pharmaceutical ingredients for conditions such as dry-eye disease and hypertension, while also advancing innovative delivery technologies like S-Pass.
As artificial intelligence and advanced industries continue to reshape demand, the richest Koreans are likely to remain at the forefront of this transformation, setting the pace for the nation’s next chapter of wealth creation. For a broader perspective, explore how wealth is distributed worldwide by reading our feature on the richest people in each country.
Read: Meet the Richest People in Each Country in 2026
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
