Recent reports have claimed that Lee Ji Ho, the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae Yong and a member of the fourth generation of the Samsung family, renounced his U.S. citizenship to enlist in the South Korean Marine Corps.
However, Samsung Electronics has firmly denied these reports, stating, “This is completely false.”
A media outlet had reported that Lee Ji Ho enlisted in the South Korean Marine Corps’ Officer Candidate School, class 138, on Monday. According to the report, Lee is expected to be officially commissioned as a second lieutenant on May 30 after training at the Marine Corps Training Center in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. The report also claimed that Chairman Lee Jae Yong and other family members attended the enlistment ceremony.
Lee Ji Ho, born in the U.S. and holding dual citizenship, graduated from high school in Canada before pursuing a degree in political science at Sciences Po in Paris in 2021. He later moved to the United States.
Samsung Electronics Refutes Enlistment Claims
In response to these claims, Samsung Electronics clarified the situation, saying, “This is entirely false.” The company emphasized that Lee Ji Ho is continuing his studies in the United States. They also denied reports that Chairman Lee and his family attended any enlistment ceremony, calling these details inaccurate.
The company further explained, “Upon investigation, we found another person with the same name at the enlistment ceremony.” They reiterated that Lee Ji Ho had not enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Meanwhile, in a 2020 press conference, Chairman Lee Jae Yong stated that he does not plan to pass on management rights to his children.
This policy remains in place. However, despite this, both Lee Ji Ho and his eldest daughter, Lee Won Joo, have continued participating in major Samsung events, keeping their familial ties strong while pursuing their studies abroad.
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