Lee Kun Hee

Lee Kun-Hee was born on January 9, 1942, in Ŭiryeong, South Kyŏngsang province, Korea (now in South Korea).

Lee Kun-hee heads to Japan for education.

Lee Kun-hee graduates from Waseda University with a major in business.

Lee Kun-hee finished George Washington University's MBA program and started working at Samsung-affiliated Tongyang Broadcasting Co, marking the beginning of his career in the business world.

Lee Kun-hee marries Hong Ra-hee, who later heads Samsung's art museum Leeum.

Lee Kun-hee was appointed as the vice chairman of Samsung C&T Corp, a significant milestone in his career within the Samsung Group.

Lee Kun-hee becomes vice chairman of Samsung Group.

Lee Kun-hee took over the chairmanship of Samsung Group on December 24, 1987, two weeks after the death of his father, Lee Byung-chul.

In the late 1990s, Lee Kun Hee received treatment for lung cancer.

In the late 1990s, Lee Kun Hee received treatment for lung cancer at an undisclosed location.

In June 1993, Lee Kun-Hee initiated a dramatic revolution at Samsung to make the conglomerate internationally competitive. He emphasized the need for radical reforms and a new management concept to improve the quality of products and promote innovation.

In 1996, Lee Kun-Hee was involved in a political scandal over corporate contributions to former president Roh Tae Woo. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but the punishment was suspended for three years. Later, he was pardoned by the President.

Lee Kun-hee took on the roles of CEO and chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., a position that significantly contributed to the company's growth and success.

Lee Kun-hee was honored with the Legion D'Honneur medal by the French government, recognizing his contributions to the business world and international relations.

In 2005, Lee Kun Hee underwent cancer testing at the MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Texas, with no subsequent concerns being announced.

In 2006, Samsung became the largest manufacturer of televisions, surpassing Sony Corporation.

In 2007, Lee Kun-hee became the richest person in South Korea with an estimated net worth of US$21 billion.

On January 14, 2008, Korean police raided Lee Kun-hee's home and office as part of an ongoing probe into accusations of Samsung's involvement in a slush fund used to bribe influential figures in South Korea.

On April 4, 2008, Lee Kun-hee denied the allegations against him in the scandal involving Samsung's slush fund and bribery of influential figures in South Korea.

On April 11, 2008, Lee Kun-hee was quoted by reporters as saying, 'I am responsible for everything. I will assume full moral and legal responsibility.'

On April 21, 2008, Lee Kun-hee resigned and apologized for causing troubles to the nation with the special probe, taking full responsibility for everything, both legally and morally.

On July 16, 2008, the Seoul Central District Court found Lee Kun-hee guilty of financial wrongdoing and tax evasion. He was fined and given a suspended sentence.

On December 29, 2009, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak pardoned Lee Kun-hee, allowing him to remain on the International Olympic Committee.

On March 24, 2010, Lee Kun-hee announced his return to Samsung Electronics as its chairman.

Lee Kun-hee reportedly plays a key role at the 123rd general session of the IOC where South Korea's PyeongChang won the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

In January 2012, Lee Kun-hee visited the Samsung factory in Vietnam.

On February 6, 2014, courts in South Korea dismissed the legal case initiated by Lee Kun-hee's older brother and sister seeking shares of Samsung companies.

In 2015, Lee Kun Hee faced charges of stock price manipulation and auditing violations related to a merger that took place in 2015.

In 2017, Lee Kun Hee was convicted of bribing former President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante to win government support for a merger between two Samsung affiliates, which tightened Lee's control over the corporate empire.

Lee Kun-hee reportedly played a key role at the 123rd general session of the IOC where South Korea's PyeongChang won the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, showcasing his influence in international sports events.

Lee Kun-hee, the influential force behind Korea's transformation into a tech powerhouse, passed away at the age of 78.

In the spring of 2021, the heirs of Lee Kun Hee announced the dispersal of his multibillion-dollar art collection to public institutions in South Korea, sparking discussions about the establishment of a new museum dedicated to the collection.

Lee Jae-yong has been officially appointed as the executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, following a pardon of his conviction for bribery. This appointment comes after he had been leading the Samsung group as the vice chairman since 2014.

In August 2022, President Yoon Suk Yeol pardoned Lee Kun Hee for the corruption conviction, highlighting the tech company's significant influence in the nation.