Прошлогодний рейтинговый список содержал 38 имён.
Прикованный к постели с 2014 года номинальный глава Samsung Group Ли Кун-хи возглавляет топ-лист богатейших людей Республики Корея уже 10-й год подряд. Его состояние сейчас оценивается в $20,6 миллиарда, в то время как год назад эта цифра составляла порядка 16,5 миллиарда долларов США. Наследник империи Samsung Ли Джей-ён занял 3-е место, которое эксперты Forbes оценивают в 8 миллиардов долларов США, сообщает информационный телеканал ARIRANG News.
На фото издания The Investor, приведённом выше, содержится информация о состоянии на начало прошлого года. Стоит отметить, что цифры ежедневно меняются в ту или иную сторону из-за скачков курса акций компаний, которыми владеют указанные персоны. Поэтому нет ничего удивительного, что оценка состояния может несколько разниться с тем, что называет Forbes. Американский журнал приводит среднюю цифру по итогом мониторинга активов за последние 12 месяцев.
Forbes: South Korea has 45 billionaires, with Samsung head Lee Kun-hee topping the list
South Korea Rich List saw a record number of billionaires. There are now 45 billionaires on this year’s list, up from 38 a year ago. The complete list can be found here and in the June issue of Forbes Asia and in the July issue of Forbes Korea.
The upbeat diplomatic news and the easing of tensions between North and South have helped South Korea’s businesses and markets. The benchmark KOSPI rose 15% in the 13 months since the last ranking, while the technology-heavy KOSDAQ index climbed 40%. As a result, 31 of South Korea’s 50 richest saw higher net worths, while only 12 fortunes fell.
Retaining the top spot is Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee, who has led the list for 10 consecutive years. His net worth rose to US$20.6 billion, from $16.8 billion a year ago. His son, Jae Y. Lee who is Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, also made the list at No. 3 with a net worth of $7.9 billion. Samsung Electronics last year racked up record revenue of $212 billion and net profit of $36.6 billion.
Biopharmaceutical entrepreneur Seo Jung-Jin (No. 2, $11 billion) is this year’s biggest gainer as his wealth surged 478%. He catapulted to the No. 2 spot, adding a staggering $9.1 billion to his net worth. Celltrion Healthcare, a marketing subsidiary of Seo’s Celltrion, launched an initial public offering last July and now boasts a market capitalization of $13 billion. Meanwhile, Celltrion switched the trading in its shares from the KOSDAQ to the main board of the Korea Exchange, putting it in the KOSPI. The stock has tripled in 13 months as three of its biosimilar drugs, Truxima, Herzuma and Remsima, which seek to treat lymphoma, breast cancer, arthritis and Crohn's disease, expanded their market share.
Suh Kyung-Bae, Chairman and CEO of cosmetics giant Amorepacific takes the No. 4 spot, as his fortune rose to $7.6 billion this year.
Gaming has long been a national obsession in South Korea, and this year’s list features six billionaire game developers. Two gaming entrepreneurs in particular, enjoyed a robust year. Kim Jung-Ju (No. 5, $7.1 billion) saw his net worth rise by 137%, as shares in his Tokyo-traded company Nexon surged after posting a 175% jump in net income in 2017. Bang Jun-Hyuk (No. 9, $2.9 billion) of mobile gaming outfit Netmarble also saw his net worth climb, up 103%. Netmarble went public in May 2017 and raised $2.3 billion.
South Korea emerged as the world’s third-largest market for trading bitcoin last year, the year of cryptocurrency. The country sprouted three of the top five exchanges for Ethereum, accounting for between 35% to 40% of the coin’s global trading volume. Seven members of the list including Kim Jung-Ju (No. 5), Kwon Hyuk-Bin (No. 8, $4.3 billion), Bang Jun-Hyuk (No. 9) and Kim Beom-Su (No. 13, $2.6 billion) have been busy investing in cryptocurrencies and blockchain, the technology underlying the digital tokens.
Making his debut on the list is new billionaire Kenny Park (No. 36, $1.16 billion) of handbag maker Simone, who is featured on the cover of the June issue of Forbes Asia. Simone - named after his wife’s nickname - churns out 30 million handbags and small leather goods every year. The privately held company generated $120 million in net income and $940 million in revenue last year.
There are three other newcomers on this year’s list. Among them are Park Yeon-Cha (No. 11, $2.75 billion) of Taekwang Industrial, a major supplier to Nike, and Kim Dae-Il (No. 42, $1.05 billion) of game developer Pearl Abyss. Lee Sang-Rok (No. 49, $930 million) also makes his debut after selling his shares in cosmetics company Carver Korea, best known for its AHC skincare line. In a deal worth $2.7 billion, Unilever now owns 95.4%.
This year’s list also sees two returnees, namely Shin Dong-Guk (No. 32, $1.2 billion) of Hanmi Pharmaceuticals and Kim Nam-Goo (No. 44, $1.02 billion) of Korea Investment Holdings.
The minimum net worth needed to make the list was $880 million, up 31% from $670 million last year.
The top 10 richest in South Korea are:
Lee Kun-Hee; US$20.6 billion
Seo Jung-Jin; $11 billion
Jae Y. Lee; $7.9 billion
Suh Kyung-Bae; $7.6 billion
Kim Jung-Ju; $7.1 billion
Chung Mong-Koo; $4.9 billion
Chey Tae-Won; $4.7 billion
Kwon Hyuk-Bin; $4.3 billion
Bang Jun-Hyuk; $2.9 billion
Lim Sung-Ki; $2.85 billion
The list was compiled using information obtained from the individuals, stock exchanges, analysts, private databases, government agencies and other sources. Net worths were based on stock prices and exchange rates as of the close of markets on May 25. Private companies were valued by using financial ratios and other comparisons with similar publicly traded companies. For some, the estimates include a spouse’s wealth.
