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 the car of Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee is drawing attention. Given Chairman Lee's track record of causing sell-outs with his choice of clothing, shoes, and even everyday items, there is growing interest in whether this product will spark 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 traveling to attend the gala event commemorating the 'Lee Kunhee Collection' exhibition.
Chairman Lee arrived at the airport in the afternoon, dressed in a suit and wearing a navy padded vest. Behind him, as he held a stack of documents in his left hand, a bottle of beverage captured through the open car door caught the eye. It was Vietnamese coconut water, known as a natural ion drink.
Coconut Water Chosen Over Water
The coconut water chosen by Chairman Lee, which he was seen drinking, 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.
Allison Massey, a nutritionist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, USA, has explained, "Coconut water has less sugar and fewer calories than typical sports drinks, and is rich in potassium and antioxidants, making it suitable for drinking 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, thereby lowering the risk of aging and cardiovascular diseases.
Anything 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 the restocked batches.
The Arc'teryx padded jacket, priced at around 1.3 million won, which he wore when boarding the SRT at Suseo Station in Seoul with Marcus Wallenberg in 2019, also joined the list of sold-out items. The Softlips lip balm, priced at about 2,300 won, which he used during the National Assembly hearing in 2016, became known as the "Jay Y. Lee 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 Kunhee 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 Leeum Museum of Art; Lee Boo-jin, President of Hotel Shilla; and Lee Seo-hyun, President of Samsung C&T, are expected to arrive in the U.S. on separate flights.
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