The stock wealth of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong plummeted by 13.1984 trillion won (a 22.3% decrease) in the third year quarter, spanning from the end of June to the end of September. Additionally, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung saw their stock holdings decline by more than 3.1862 trillion won (29.4% down) and 1.1813 trillion won (15.2% down), respectively. As a result of this downward trend, the combined stock value of 48 major corporate group chiefs in South Korea shrank by more than 18 trillion won during the third quarter.

According to a survey on the fluctuations of stock evaluation values of major group chiefs in the third quarter of 2026 released by corporate analysis firm Korea CXO Institute on the 6th, there were 48 group chiefs with stock evaluation values exceeding 100 billion won as of the end of September among large business conglomerates managed by the Fair Trade Commission.

The total stock evaluation value of these 48 group chiefs fell from 134.0199 trillion won at the end of June to 115.4423 trillion won at the end of September, marking a decrease of 18.5776 trillion won or 13.9%. Among the 48 group chiefs, 25 saw an increase in their stock evaluation values, while 23 experienced declines. While the increase in stock wealth for the 25 gaining group chiefs totaled 3.4267 trillion won, the losses incurred by the remaining 23 group chiefs exceeded 22.0042 trillion won.

Market conditions for the stocks held by the group chiefs were directly reflected in their stock wealth. The stock wealth of South Korea's major group chiefs had risen steadily until the end of June this year amidst a bull market, but subsequently shifted downward. Compared to early January, the total stock wealth of these chiefs increased by 10.6242 trillion won (11.3%) by the end of March, and by another 29.4728 trillion won (28.2%) from the end of March to the end of June. However, the latest survey recorded a decline rate of 13.9%.

The stock wealth of Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Chairman Chey Tae-won, and Executive Chair Euisun Chung—who rank within the top three in domestic group asset standings—was found to have dropped by a combined 17.5659 trillion won in the third quarter alone.

Chairman Lee Jae-yong's stock evaluation value dropped from 59.1878 trillion won to 45.9894 trillion won, a decrease of 13.1984 trillion won (22.3% down). Chairman Chey Tae-won's stock wealth fell from 10.8259 trillion won in the previous quarter to 7.6397 trillion won, while Executive Chair Euisun Chung's holdings similarly declined from 7.7577 trillion won to 6.5764 trillion won.

There were also chiefs whose stock values plunged by more than 50%. The stock evaluation value of Kolon Group Honorary Chairman Lee Woong-yeol dropped from 650 billion won to 252.4 billion won over the past three months, recording a decline rate of 61.2% compared to the second quarter. Paradise Group Chairman Jun Pil-rip saw his stock wealth drop by 32.4%, from around 328.7 billion won to 222.2 billion won.

Other leaders such as Chairman Chey Tae-won (29.4% down), Hyundai Department Store Group Chairman Chung Ji-sun (25.5% down), and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin (25.2% down) also experienced declines of over 25% in their stock wealth over the past three months.

The group chief with the highest stock evaluation value growth rate in the third quarter was GS Group Honorary Chairman Huh Chang-soo, whose wealth rose from 415.8 billion won at the end of June to 638.5 billion won at the end of September, marking a 53.6% increase over three months. He was followed by Netmarble and Coway Board Chairman Bang Jun-hyuk (78.39 billion won to 1.1075 trillion won, a 41.3% increase), Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Chairman Chung Mong-yoon (685.6 billion won to 941.3 billion won, 37.3%), DN Group Chairman Kim Sang-헌 (747.3 billion won to 952.7 billion won, 27.5%), and DB Group Founding Chairman Kim Jun-ki (874.1 billion won to 1.0808 trillion won, 23.6%).

In terms of absolute increase in stock evaluation value, Celltrion Group Chairman Seo Jung-jin claimed the top spot. Chairman Seo's stock wealth rose by 1.0372 trillion won (8.7%) over the past three months, moving from 11.8944 trillion won to 12.9316 trillion won at the end of September. Aside from Chairman Seo, Amorepacific Chairman Suh Kyung-bae (up 375.4 billion won), LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo (up 329.0 billion won), and Netmarble Board Chairman Bang Jun-hyuk (up 323.5 billion won) also saw their third-quarter stock evaluation values increase by more than 300 billion won.

Among the 48 chiefs, the number of individuals holding stock wealth worth 1조 won or more stood at 17, an increase of one from the end of June.

Chairman Lee Jae-yong held the largest amount at approximately 45.9894 trillion won, followed by Chairman Seo Jung-jin (12.9316 trillion won), Chairman Chey Tae-won (7.6397 trillion won), Executive Chair Euisun Chung (6.5764 trillion won), Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon (4.0833 trillion won), HD Hyundai Asan Foundation Chairman Chung Mong-joon (3.6877 trillion won), Kakao Founder Kim Beom-su (3.5370 trillion won), LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo (2.8476 trillion won), and Ecopro Founder Lee Dong-chae (2.0614 trillion won). DB Founding Chairman Kim Jun-ki newly joined the 1조-won club in this survey.

Although excluded from the official rankings because they are not heads of business groups designated by the Fair Trade Commission, major shareholders holding over 10조 won in stock wealth included Leeum Museum of Art Honorary Director Hong Ra-hee (19.5954 trillion won), Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin (18.0562 trillion won), Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun (16.8964 trillion won), and Meritz Financial Group Chairman Cho Jung-ho (12.3454 trillion won).

Oh Il-sun, Director of the Korea CXO Institute, noted, "The stock items held by group chiefs number around 150, and their stock price trends diverged into two directions, resulting in contrasting fortunes. In the third quarter, select stocks such as holding companies, insurers, and petrochemical sectors held their ground despite the sluggish market, whereas sectors including semiconductors, automobiles, distribution/trading, and food struggled somewhat in the stock market."

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