FAMILY TREE DESIGNED BY GORDON BRUCE AND JON CRAINE. USED WITH PERMISSION.
The family tree of Samsung’s founding Lee family, one of the wealthiest
families and the world that controls much of South Korean business. When
Samsung founder B.C. Lee died in 1987, his business empire was separated
into five parts among his children. Today, those business groups are known as
Samsung, CJ, Shinsegae, Saehan, and Hansol.In a seemingly royal tradition, purges of potential rivals within the
family began following B.C.’s death; members of the family were let go
from Chairman Lee II’s domain.
Henry Cho, my contact, had long been close to Chairman Lee II; he had
lived with the young scion in Japan during his days as an undergraduate
economics student at Waseda University. He was playing golf with his
colleagues at Samsung’s Anyang course after Lee was named chairman,
when the manager of the club approached the green.
“You guys are no longer members,” the manager told the group. They
were asked to leave. The fact that Henry and the chairman were close
friends didn’t matter.
And that was how Henry knew he was out.
Stories of intrigue within the family emerged, owing to the less
fortunate siblings’ resentment over the inheritance. In 1995 a video camera