Seoul: Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong recorded the sharpest gain in his stock assets among major business tycoons in the first quarter of 2026, despite recent losses in the wake of the Middle East conflict, data showed Thursday. The combined value of shares held by Lee was estimated at 30.9 trillion won (US$20.3 billion) as of the end of March, up sharply by more than 5 trillion won from 25.8 trillion won at the beginning of this year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, data from market tracker Korea CXO Institute indicated that Lee’s stock assets were valued at 39.9 trillion won in February but later fell following a correction in the South Korean stock market amid the widening conflict between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung saw his stock assets rise 1.4 trillion won over the first three months this year to 7.5 trillion won, while those of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won increased 544.5 billion won to 3.9 trillion won.
The data also revealed that the combined stock assets held by the country’s top 45 business tycoons increased by more than 10 trillion won over the period, from 93.2 trillion won to 103.5 trillion won, after peaking at 130 trillion won in late February. The institute noted that while shares of 90 percent of 140 companies held by the tycoons surveyed gained ground in February from a month earlier, most of them underwent a correction in March due to the Middle East conflict.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at a record high of 6,307.27 on Feb. 26, soaring from 4,309.63 on the first trading day of 2026. On Wednesday, the index closed at 5,478.7 after experiencing volatility due to supply chain disruptions sparked by the conflict.