"Another Sellout Coming?"... Beverage Spotted in Chairman Lee Jae-yong's Car Draws Attention

Coconut Water Draws Attention as Lee Heads to the U.S.
Will It Become the Next "Lee Jae-yong Item" After the Padded Vest and Lip Balm?

A bottle of beverage spotted inside Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s car has become a hot topic. Given that everything from Chairman Lee’s clothing and shoes to everyday items he uses have sold out as soon as they were seen, there is growing interest in whether this drink will trigger another “sold-out frenzy.”

Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee is departing on the 26th through the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC) to attend the 'Lee Kunhee Collection' gala event held in Washington, USA, on the 28th. A bottle of beverage captured inside the vehicle that day attracted attention. It was Vietnamese coconut water, known as a natural ion drink. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 26th, Chairman Lee departed for Washington, D.C., via the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC) in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He is attending the gala event commemorating the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection' exhibition.

Chairman Lee arrived at the airport that afternoon wearing a suit and a navy padded vest. Behind him, while he was holding a stack of documents in his left hand, a bottle of beverage caught the eye through the open car door. It was Vietnamese coconut water, known as a natural ion drink.

'Coconut Water' Chosen Instead of Water

The coconut water reportedly chosen by Chairman Lee is an organic product that claims to be fat-free, sugar-free, cholesterol-free, and gluten-free. With high potassium and electrolyte content and low calories, it is gaining popularity as a hydration beverage.

Pure Coconut Water. Screenshot from Coupang

Allison Massey, a nutritionist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, USA, previously explained, “Coconut water contains less sugar and fewer calories than regular sports drinks, and it is rich in potassium and antioxidants, making it suitable to drink after exercise or during long periods of travel.”

Potassium helps expel sodium from the body and contributes to muscle function, blood pressure, and heart rate regulation. Antioxidants suppress free radicals and help reduce the risk of aging and cardiovascular disease.

Everything He Wears Sells Out

Chairman Lee's 'Lansmere Golf' padded vest (left) and Softlips lip balm that became a hot topic. Yonhap News Agency

Chairman Lee has long been nicknamed the “sold-out man.” The Lansmere Golf cashmere vest he wore on a business trip to the United Arab Emirates in February 2024 sold out immediately after it was made public, and the Beanpole Golf padded vest from Samsung C&T that he wore during a business trip to Vietnam in December 2022 also sold out, including all restock quantities.

The Arc'teryx padded jacket, priced at around 1.3 million won, which he wore when boarding the SRT with Chairman Marcus Wallenberg at Seoul Suseo Station in 2019, also joined the sold-out list. The Softlips lip balm, priced at around 2,300 won, which he used during the National Assembly hearing in 2016, became known as the “Lee Jae-yong lip balm,” sparking a surge in overseas direct purchases and eventually leading to its official launch in Korea.

Meanwhile, Chairman Lee is scheduled to attend the gala event commemorating the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection' exhibition in Washington, D.C., USA, on the 28th (local time). Other members of the Samsung family, including Hong Ra-hee, Honorary Director of the Leeum Museum of Art, Lee Boo-jin, President of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, President of Samsung C&T, are reportedly arriving in the United States on separate flights.