High Likelihood of Commissioning as Interpretation Officer in the 139th Class
Serving 39 Months After Renouncing U.S. Citizenship
Business Community: "Directly Chose to Fulfill Military Duty"
Did Not Attend Entrance Ceremony... Attendance at Commissioning Ceremony Under Discussion
Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, is reportedly expected to attend the naval officer commissioning ceremony of his eldest son, Lee Jiho (24).
According to the business community on November 14, the commissioning ceremony will be held on the 28th at the Naval Academy in Jinhae, Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, presided over by the Chief of Naval Operations. Chairman Lee did not attend the entrance ceremony for officer candidates in September.
Lee Jae-yong Chairman's Eldest Son Lee Jiho's Enrollment Ceremony(Changwon=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dongmin = Lee Jiho, eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, is seen saluting vigorously at the '139th Naval Officer Candidate Enrollment Ceremony' held on the morning of the 23rd at the Ungpo Auditorium of the Naval Academy in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam.
The 139th class, including Mr. Lee, enlisted on the 15th, underwent a one-week enrollment period including receiving supplies and physical examinations, and will serve a total of 39 months of military service including an 11-week training period. September 23, 2025
Photo by Kim Dongmin
? Yonhap News Agency, Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited, AI training and utilization prohibited
Lee Jiho enlisted on September 15 as a member of the 139th class of naval officer cadets, completed the induction process, and underwent 11 weeks of officer training. He participated in physical training, basic maritime survival training, and tactical education. After commissioning, he is expected to be assigned as a naval interpretation officer. Upon commissioning, he will become a Navy Second Lieutenant, and his total military service will be 39 months, including the mandatory service period of 36 months.
Born in the United States in 2000, he previously held dual citizenship in Korea and the United States, but chose to serve as a naval officer and renounced his U.S. citizenship. This decision has been interpreted as a willingness to fulfill his military duty directly, and has been positively received in the business community as a sign of responsibility.
The Naval Academy has begun preparations for the commissioning ceremony, including coordinating the number of family attendees and their movement routes. Samsung Electronics has not made any official statement regarding Chairman Lee's attendance at the ceremony.
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