Good Bad Billionaire The Lee family (from Inheritance: Samsung): Part one
Apr 29, 2026
Jeffrey Kahn, author and longtime Samsung watcher, offers concise historical context on the Lee family. The conversation covers J.Y. Lee's arrest and its shockwaves, the C&T merger and succession stakes, mysterious high‑value equestrian deals, and the role of pension funds and activist investors in challenging chaebol power.
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Heir Arrest Exposed Chaebol Vulnerability
- Samsung's heir Lee Jae-yong faced a public criminal moment that exposed the limits of chaebol immunity in South Korea.
- His arrest after decades of grooming showed succession is political, tied to mergers, shareholder battles, and national scrutiny.
Equestrian Deal Benefited President's Ally
- Samsung paid about $19 million to Core Sports International to sponsor horses that largely benefited Choi Soon-sil's daughter.
- A $800,000 Grand Prix horse Vatana V exemplified how corporate funds funneled into presidential connections.
Merger Designed To Consolidate Family Control
- The contested Samsung C&T merger was structured to concentrate control, not fair value for shareholders.
- If passed, the deal would give Lee Jae-yong majority influence over the new holding company and indirect power over Samsung Electronics.