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Samsung family tops Forbes richest Asian families

October 9, 2015
Samsung Jay Y. Lee, middle, walks ahead of his sisters Boo-jin, left, and Seo-hyun. (Korea Times file)

Samsung Jay Y. Lee, middle, walks ahead of his sisters Boo-jin, left, and Seo-hyun. (Korea Times file)

By Brian Han

Have you wondered who the wealthiest family in all of Asia might be?

Forbes did the legwork and the results are in. Considering that South Korean corporations have become notorious for chaebol culture, it should only come as a small surprise that Samsung’s Lee family topped the list.

All in all, they have an accumulated $26.6 billion among themselves.

There were no other South Korean families in the top 10, but part of reason is that because China’s economy looms so large in the global market.

The Lee Shau Kee family, founders of Henderson Development, trailed in second with $24.1 billion.

The second richest Korean family is the Chung family, founders and owners of the Hyundai corporation. Not only do they manufacture a globally popular automobile, they also take part in heavy industrial construction, insurance and retail. They are valued at $13.5 billion and are 11th on Forbes’ list.