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Widow of late Samsung chief sells $2.1 billion in shares to settle inheritance taxes

Published: 09 Apr. 2026, 13:14 Updated: 09 Apr. 2026, 13:46

Hong Ra-hee, left, the widow of late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, is seen walking with her son and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong at the Republic of Korea Naval Academy in Changwon in November 2025. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Hong Ra-hee, the widow of late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, has sold a stake in Samsung Electronics worth nearly 3.1 trillion won ($2.1 billion) to settle inheritance taxes on assets left by the late tycoon, industry sources said Thursday.

Hong, honorary director of the Leeum Museum of Art and mother of Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, sold 15 million shares in Samsung Electronics in a block deal before the market opened earlier in the day, according to the sources.

Her shares were sold at 205,237 won per share, reducing Hong's stake to 1.24 percent from 1.49 percent.

The sale marks the end of the family's effort to pay inheritance taxes, totaling about 12 trillion won, in installments over a five-year period that began in April 2021.

Along with Hong, Lee Jae-yong and his two sisters — Lee Boo-jin, CEO of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, president of Samsung C&T — have financed the tax burden through share sales in group affiliates and other funding measures since 2021.

The late chairman left assets estimated at around 26 trillion won, including stocks valued at 19 trillion won, upon his death in October 2020.

The completion of the inheritance tax payments is expected to ease financial pressure on the family.

Due to the burden the payments placed on the family over the last five years, Samsung-affiliated companies prioritized stable management structures and securing new financial resources over aggressive investments. The tax payment appears to provide momentum for Chairman Lee's push for a "New Samsung" growth strategy, which is likely to focus on developing original, future-oriented technologies and pursuing mergers and acquisitions.

Yonhap