25.09.10.Today News : Lee Jae-yong’s Son Ji-ho Chooses Navy Officer Service, Renounces U.S. Citizenship

Lee Jae-yong’s Son Ji-ho Chooses Navy Officer Service, Renounces U.S. Citizenship

📍Samsung heir rejects dual citizenship privilege, opts for naval officer duty as act of noblesse oblige

Ji-ho Lee, the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, will join the Navy Officer Candidate School on September 15. He gave up his U.S. citizenship and chose the longer and more demanding path of naval officer service, a decision widely regarded as a symbolic act of social responsibility in South Korea.

Lee Ji-ho, the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, is entering the Navy as a cadet.

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■ Giving Up U.S. Citizenship for Naval Service
Ji-ho Lee will enter the Navy Officer Candidate School in Jinhae on September 15 as part of the 139th class. After 11 weeks of intensive training, he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant on December 1 and serve 36 months, totaling 39 months of military duty—nearly twice as long as the average conscript.

■ A Responsible Choice Beyond Privilege
Born in the United States in 2000, Lee held dual citizenship. While serving as an enlisted soldier would have allowed him to keep his U.S. citizenship, becoming an officer required him to renounce it. He accepted this requirement, choosing the path of greater responsibility and sacrifice.

■ Noblesse Oblige in Action
Officer service entails not only a longer term but also command and management duties. Lee’s decision is seen as a statement that the heir to Korea’s largest conglomerate is not avoiding his obligations. With only about 100 cases annually of dual nationals voluntarily giving up foreign citizenship to serve, his decision carries rare symbolic weight.

■ Comparisons with Global Business Dynasties
The move echoes traditions among global business families. Sweden’s Wallenberg family has had its heirs serve as naval officers for over 170 years. Members of America’s Rockefeller family served as officers during World War II. Frederick W. Smith, founder of FedEx, also served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer in the Vietnam War. Ji-ho Lee’s choice aligns with these legacies of corporate heirs serving their nations.

■ Symbolic Meaning for Korean Society
Military service has long been a sensitive topic in South Korea, with controversies surrounding exemptions or avoidance by elite families. Lee’s entry as a naval officer provides a contrasting example, demonstrating fairness and responsibility. Experts suggest that his choice will not only strengthen Samsung’s public trust but also have a broader positive impact on perceptions of fairness in Korean society.

One-line summary : Ji-ho Lee, son of Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, gave up his U.S. citizenship to serve as a naval officer, a decision praised as responsible and symbolic.