# Lee Kun-hee

_4th and 6th Chairman of the Samsung Group (1942–2020)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/lee-kun-hee
Last updated: 2026-11-04

> Lee Kun-hee was a South Korean businessman who served as the chair of Samsung from 1987 to 2008 and from 2010 to his death in 2020. He is also credited with the transformation of Samsung to one of the world's largest business entities that engages in semiconductors, smartphones, electronics, shipbuilding, construction, and other businesses. Since Lee became the chair of Samsung, the company became the world's largest manufacturer of smartphones, memory chips, and appliances. He was the third son of Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul. With an estimated net worth of US$21 billion at the time of his death, he was the richest person in South Korea, a position that he had held since 2007.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 9 January 1942 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Uiryeong County ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P19))
- **Died:** 25 October 2020 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P570))
- **Place of death:** Samsung Seoul Hospital ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P20))
- **Citizenship:** South Korea ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P27))
- **Occupation:** entrepreneur; businessperson; industrialist; sports official ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P106))
- **Education:** Waseda University; George Washington University; Seoul National University High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P69))
- **Spouse:** Hong Ra-hee ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P26))
- **Positions held:** Chairman of Samsung Group (24 March 2010 – 25 October 2020); Chairman of Samsung Group (24 December 1987 – 21 April 2008) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P39))
- **Awards:** Silver Olympic Order; Legion of Honour ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412#P166))

## Questions

**When was Lee Kun-hee born?**  
Lee Kun-hee was born on 9 January 1942 in Uiryeong County.

**What positions has Lee Kun-hee held?**  
Positions held by Lee Kun-hee include: Chairman of Samsung Group (2010–2020); Chairman of Samsung Group (1987–2008).

**Where did Lee Kun-hee study?**  
Lee Kun-hee was educated at Waseda University, George Washington University, Seoul National University High School.

## Related

- [Bom Kim](https://diginpl.com/people/bom-kim)
- [Kwon Hyuk-bin](https://diginpl.com/people/kwon-hyuk-bin)
- [Lee Seung-gun](https://diginpl.com/people/lee-seung-gun)
- [Abdullah Al-Othaim](https://diginpl.com/people/abdullah-al-othaim)
- [Abigail Johnson](https://diginpl.com/people/abigail-johnson)
- [Adam Neumann](https://diginpl.com/people/adam-neumann)
- [Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud](https://diginpl.com/people/al-waleed-bin-talal-al-saud)
- [Alberto Baillères](https://diginpl.com/people/alberto-bailleres)
- [Alex Karp](https://diginpl.com/people/alex-karp)
- [Alexei Mordashov](https://diginpl.com/people/alexei-mordashov)
- [Alexey Kuzmichev](https://diginpl.com/people/alexey-kuzmichev)
- [Alfonso Fanjul Jr.](https://diginpl.com/people/alfonso-fanjul-jr)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Lee Kun-hee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kun-hee) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q494412](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494412) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Lee Kun-Hee.jpg by Republic of Korea (CC BY-SA 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lee_Kun-Hee.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Lee Kun-hee, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Lee Kun-Hee.jpg — Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Lee Kun-hee". DigiNepal. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/lee-kun-hee. Retrieved 7 November 2026.