Appearing in a Black Shirt and Jeans... Samsung Heir Jiho Lee Enlists as Navy Officer Candidate

Eldest Son of the Samsung Family, Jiho Lee, Begins 39-Month Navy Service
Set to Be Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in November
Enters Naval Academy with Family in Attendance
Assigned as a Shipboard Interpreter Officer

Jiho Lee, the 24-year-old eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee, enlisted as a Navy officer candidate on the 15th. He voluntarily chose to serve as an officer after renouncing his U.S. citizenship. Despite being eligible for military exemption, he opted for a longer service period and gave up his foreign nationality. Both inside and outside the business community, this move is being seen as an example of 'noblesse oblige' in action.

At around 1:05 p.m. on the same day, a black minivan believed to be carrying Lee passed through the 3rd main gate of the Naval Base Command in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. The vehicle’s windows were heavily tinted, so the identities of the passengers could not be confirmed from outside. The enlistee traveled with his family by car to the enlistment site within the Naval Academy, and identification procedures were conducted at both the main gate and a nearby area.

Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, eldest son Lee Jiho is heading to the Navy Officer Candidate Enlistment Ceremony held on the 15th at the Naval Academy in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. Samsung Electronics. Photo by Yonhap News

The enlistment ceremony was presided over by Colonel Soonbu Lee, commander of the cadet regiment at the Naval Academy. After the ceremony, enlistees were given a brief moment to say their final goodbyes to their families. The vehicle believed to be carrying Lee's family left the base through the main gate at around 3:25 p.m. It is presumed that his mother, Lim Seryung, Vice Chairwoman of Daesang Holdings, and his younger sister were present, but a Navy official stated, "Family members did enter together, but it is difficult to confirm their exact identities."

Starting from this day, Lee will begin the 139th Navy Officer Candidate training program. During the first week, he will undergo 'basic military training,' which includes a physical examination, fitness assessment, and receiving supplies. This is also the period when enlistees can voluntarily withdraw before formal training begins. The full officer training program lasts for 11 weeks, during which candidates will receive intensive training covering everything from basic military skills to the competencies required of a Navy officer.

After completing the training, Lee is scheduled to be officially commissioned as a Navy second lieutenant on November 28. Second lieutenant is the entry-level rank for commissioned officers, and after commissioning, Lee will serve a mandatory 36-month term, totaling 39 months of service in the Navy. His assignment as a 'shipboard interpretation officer' has been confirmed, but his specific unit will be determined at the time of commissioning, based on his training performance and the Navy’s personnel needs.

Jiho Lee, the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee, is heading to the Navy Officer Candidate Entrance Ceremony held at the Naval Academy in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This enlistment is being viewed as more than just fulfilling a military obligation. Lee was born in the United States in 2000 and held dual citizenship by birth. If he had enlisted as a regular soldier, he could have completed his service while retaining his U.S. citizenship. However, to serve as an officer, he was required to relinquish his foreign citizenship.

In fact, only about 100 individuals with U.S. permanent residency or citizenship voluntarily enlist in the Korean military each year, and most of them serve as regular soldiers, which involves a comparatively short period of service. Cases of volunteering for officer duty are extremely rare. While regular soldiers serve for 18 to 21 months, officers must serve for 39 months, about 2.1 times longer, and must also give up the advantages of dual citizenship. Some in the business community view Lee’s decision as demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility that goes beyond simply fulfilling his military duty.