Samsung Chairman’s Son to Join Navy as Officer Candidate

Published September 11, 2025 22:05

Lee Jee-ho, 24, has renounced his U.S. citizenship and will serve 39 months in the South Korean Navy starting next week.

The only son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong will begin his mandatory military service next week as a naval officer candidate, the company said Wednesday.

Lee Jee-ho, born in the United States in 2000, has given up his U.S. citizenship to serve in South Korea. His service will last 39 months, starting Monday.

Samsung said he is expected to be commissioned as a Navy ensign on Dec. 1.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to complete at least 18 months of military service.

Lee Jae-yong, often called the «crown prince of Samsung,» officially became chairman of the tech giant in 2022 after the death of his father, Lee Kun-hee. Under his leadership, Samsung has been pushing deeper into semiconductors and artificial intelligence, while facing global competition in chips and smartphones.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to complete at least 18 months of military service, though officer candidates typically serve longer.

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