Samsung Electronics announced that Chairman Jay Y. Lee’s family, including his mother, Hong Ra-hee, and sisters, Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun, will sell 17.7 million shares, which represents a 0.3% stake in the company, for approximately 1.73 trillion won (about $1.22 billion).
The filing with the Korea Exchange indicated that this sale is intended to fund inheritance tax obligations and repay loans following the death of Lee Kun-hee, the family patriarch, in 2020. The estimated tax bill is around 12 trillion won.
Shinhan Bank will manage the sale under a trust contract, concluding by April 2026.
Samsung Electronics family to sell $1.2 bln stake amid share rally https://t.co/g8MuEsRGlr https://t.co/g8MuEsRGlr
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 18, 2025Samsung’s shares surged 84% in 2025, gaining 0.2% to 97,900 won on October 17, driven by a July Tesla chip deal and potential Nvidia HBM supply. Analyst Park Ju-gun of Leaders Index noted last year’s 10 trillion won buyback protected stock value, aiding tax funding. However, he warned, “Selling now could dampen retail investor sentiment,” given 5 million shareholders eye the 100,000-won mark.
The sale reflects Samsung’s financial strategy amid a booming chip market. Investor confidence hinges on execution, impacting the “national stock.”
