Seoul: Members of corporate owner families of large business groups were paid an average of 2.7 billion won (US$1.83 million) in salary last year, with Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn topping the list, industry data revealed Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the average salary of owner family members across 460 affiliated companies under 81 business groups with available financial reports reached 2.7 billion won in 2025, marking a 6.9 percent increase from the previous year. During the same period, employees, excluding executives, at those companies received an average of 101.2 million won, reflecting an 11.1 percent rise from a year earlier.

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim emerged as the highest-paid member of an owner family, with his combined annual salary from five affiliates amounting to 24.8 billion won. Following him, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin earned 19.1 billion won, Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won received 18.1 billion won, CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun was paid 17.7 billion won, and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung earned 17.5 billion won.

Lee Jae-yong, the chief of Samsung Group, the country's largest conglomerate, has reportedly been working without pay since 2017, as per earlier reports.