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Lee Seo-hyun, Chairperson of the Samsung Welfare Foundation and member of the Samsung founding family, attends a public event in Seoul.
(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News Agency) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, October 30, 2025 — Lee Seo-hyun, President of Samsung C&T Corp. and Chairperson of the Samsung Welfare Foundation, has decided to sell ₩180 billion (KRW 178 billion) worth of Samsung Life Insurance Co. shares via a block deal, in a move interpreted as part of efforts to secure funds for inheritance tax payments and loan repayment.
According to financial industry sources, Lee plans to offload 1,154,000 shares of Samsung Life after market close on the 30th. The deal is being managed by JP Morgan, Citi Global Markets Securities, Bank of America, and Shinhan Investment & Securities. The shares are expected to be priced between ₩151,100 and ₩154,300 per share, representing a 2–4% discount from the day’s closing price of ₩157,400. The total transaction is valued at up to ₩178 billion (US$130 million).
Following the sale, Lee’s ownership in Samsung Life will decrease from 3.46 million shares (1.73%) to 2.31 million shares (1.15%), marking a 0.58 percentage point reduction in her stake.
On October 24, Lee signed a trust agreement with Shinhan Bank outlining that the sale’s purpose was to fund inheritance tax payments and loan settlements. The Samsung family has been paying roughly ₩12 trillion (US$8.7 billion) in inheritance taxes over five years following the death of the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, with the final installment due in April 2026.
As Samsung Electronics and Samsung Life Insurance shares have climbed in recent months, the heirs have accelerated stock sales to raise liquidity ahead of the final payment.
On the same day, Hong Ra-hee, Honorary Director of the Leeum Museum of Art, and Lee Boo-jin, CEO of Hotel Shilla, also began book-building for a block sale of part of their combined 17.72 million Samsung Electronics shares, estimated at ₩1.84 trillion (US$1.35 billion) based on the day’s closing price. The three members—Hong, Lee Boo-jin, and Lee Seo-hyun—had signed a trust agreement with Shinhan Bank on October 16 to proceed with the sale.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
