SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) — Owner family members of large business groups were paid an average 2.7 billion won (US$1.83 million) in salary last year, with Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn topping the list, industry data showed Wednesday.
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, up 6.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by corporate tracker CEO Score.
Over the same period, employees, excluding executives, at those companies received an average of 101.2 million won, up 11.1 percent from a year earlier.
Hanwha Group Chairman Kim was the most paid member of an owner family, with his combined annual salary from five affiliates totaling 24.8 billion won, the data showed.
Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin came in next with 19.1 billion won, followed by Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won with 18.1 billion won, CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun with 17.7 billion won and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung with 17.5 billion won.
Lee Jae-yong, the chief of Samsung Group, the country’s single largest conglomerate, has been working with no pay since 2017, according to earlier reports.
This file photo, provided by Hanwha Group, shows its Chairman Kim Seung-youn (C) on April 5, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
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