Samsung heir enrols to be South Korean naval officer, sparking national service debate
Lee Jee-ho’s enlistment is seen as a move to counter views of privileges enjoyed by some chaebol heirs, including avoiding national service
In doing so, Lee Jee-ho joins a growing cohort of scions of family-run conglomerates who are opting for longer, more demanding military service than the average conscripts in South Korea.
Some observers see the trend as a calculated effort by the chaebol heirs to counter opinions of their privilege and project themselves as future leaders shaped by discipline and sacrifice.
“When chaebol heirs serve transparently in the military, it offsets much of the negative perception surrounding them,” Hwang Yong-sik, professor at Sejong University’s College of Business and Economics, told The Korea Herald. “Serving as officers, in particular, reinforces an image of leadership.”
On Monday, 24-year-old Lee entered the Republic of Korea Naval Academy in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang. After 11 weeks of training, he is scheduled to be commissioned as an ensign on December 1.
His total service is expected to run 39 months, compared with the 18 to 21 months of active duty typically required of South Korean men under the country’s conscription system.