Early Life
Lee Boo-jin was born in Seoul, South Korea, on October 6, 1970. She is the eldest daughter of Lee Kun-hee, the late chairman of Samsung, and Hong Ra-hee. She graduated from Daewon Foreign Language High School and earned a bachelor's degree in children's studies from Yonsei University.
Rise to Success
Lee began her career at the Samsung Welfare Foundation in 1995. In 2001, she joined Hotel Shilla, a subsidiary of the Samsung Group specializing in hospitality and travel retail. She was appointed as the President and CEO of Hotel Shilla in December 2010. She has also held positions such as President of Corporate Strategy for Samsung Everland and an advisor for the trading department of Samsung C&T. From 2014 to 2019, she served as an independent non-executive director of CITIC Limited. In 2023, she was ranked 82nd on Forbes' list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
Key Business Strategies
Under Lee's leadership, Hotel Shilla has expanded its duty-free business and established a global hotel chain. Her focus is on expanding the duty-free business and establishing a global hotel chain, as well as restoring the performance of the duty-free and hotel businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is known for her decisive leadership and is often compared to her father, Lee Kun-hee, for her business acumen.
Philanthropy
Lee has been involved in philanthropic activities, serving as a director of the Dooeul Scholarship Foundation, a family-run organization established in 2000 to honor Lee Byung-chul's late wife. The foundation focuses on nurturing talent and supporting emerging experts across various sectors.
