South Korea had 31 billionaires as of 2025, with 29 of them living in Seoul. How many billionaires are in South Korea, and who is the richest? The wealthiest is Jay Y. Lee, worth roughly $21.6 billion as of 2026, with his fortune tied to Samsung. This guide profiles the nation's richest and where they are based.
South Korea is home to many ultra wealthy billionaires, with the majority of them located in Seoul. These billionaires have amassed their wealth from a variety of industries, including finance and investments, technology, healthcare and biotech, and media and entertainment.
How many billionaires are in South Korea?
South Korea is home to 31 billionaires as of 2025. The majority of them, 29, are located in Seoul, while only 2 billionaires are located in Jeju-do.
Top 5 Billionaires in South Korea 2026
Who has the highest net worth in South Korea?
1. Michael Kim
Michael Kim, born in 1963, is a male self-made billionaire whose wealth is sourced from private equity through MBK Partners, in the finance and investments industries. As of 2026, Michael Kim is worth roughly $9.9 billion, ranking him among South Korea’s wealthiest individuals after briefly holding the title of the nation’s richest person in 2025.
2. Jay Y. Lee
Jay Y. Lee, born in 1968, is a male non self-made billionaire whose source of wealth is Samsung, with business interests spanning the technology industry. As of 2026, Jay Y. Lee is worth roughly $21.6 billion, making him South Korea’s richest person after a sharp rise driven by the rebound in Samsung’s semiconductor business amid surging AI-chip demand.
3. Seo Jung-jin
Seo Jung-jin was born in 1957 and is a self-made male billionaire. His business operates in the healthcare and biotech industries, and his source of wealth is the biopharmaceutical company Celltrion. As of 2026, Seo Jung-jin is worth roughly $8.1 billion.
4. Kwon Hyuk-bin
Kwon Hyuk-bin, born in 1974, is a self-made male billionaire whose wealth is mainly derived from the online games industry through Smilegate, part of the larger media and entertainment sector. As of 2026, Kwon Hyuk-bin is worth roughly $3.3 billion.
5. Kim Beom-su
Kim Beom-su, born in 1966, is a self-made male billionaire whose source of wealth is Kakao. His business operates in the technology category, specializing in online services. As of 2026, Kim Beom-su is worth roughly $3.4 billion.
Sources:
Forbes Billionaires List 2026
Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2026
Last updated: June 19, 2026
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