Lee Kun-hee

Date of Birth: January 9, 1942

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: October 25, 2020

Biography

Lee Kun-hee was a prominent South Korean businessman and the chairman of Samsung Group, South Korea’s largest conglomerate. Born into a family that founded the Samsung Group, Lee took over the leadership of the company in 1987 following the death of his father, Lee Byung-chul. Under his leadership, Samsung transitioned from being a local manufacturer of consumer electronics to a global powerhouse, particularly noted for its innovations in semiconductors, mobile phones, and televisions. His visionary approach and relentless pursuit of excellence dramatically transformed Samsung’s global standing and made it a household name. Lee Kun-hee was known for his bold and often unorthodox management style, which emphasized quality, change, and innovation. He is credited with advocating the “New Management” initiative in 1993, which included a company-wide shift towards quality improvement and technological advancement.

5 Interesting Facts about Lee Kun-hee

1. Lee Kun-hee was instrumental in making Samsung a leading player in the global technology market, particularly in semiconductors and smartphones.

2. He implemented the “New Management” initiative in 1993, which was focused on improving quality and fostering innovation within Samsung.

3. Lee Kun-hee was known for his reclusive lifestyle, rarely making public appearances.

4. He was convicted twice for white-collar crimes but was later pardoned both times.

5. Under his leadership, Samsung Electronics became the world’s largest manufacturer of smartphones and televisions.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lee Kun-hee

1. “Change everything except your wife and kids.”

2. “In the era of infinite competition, the only way to survive is to create products of the highest quality.”

3. “We must make our corporate culture stand out from others.”

4. “We should change our ways of doing business from the ground up.”

5. “Quality is my top priority.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Lee Kun-hee’s net worth was estimated to be around $20.9 billion.

Children

Lee Kun-hee had four children: 1. Lee Jae-yong (also known as Jay Y. Lee) – Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics and the de facto leader of Samsung Group. 2. Lee Boo-jin – President and CEO of Hotel Shilla, a luxury hotel chain, and a prominent figure within the Samsung Group. 3. Lee Seo-hyun – President of Samsung C&T’s fashion division and Chairwoman of the Samsung Welfare Foundation. 4. Lee Yoon-hyung – Tragically passed away in 2005.