Billionaire Profile

Global Rank

#3103

Image: Unsplash Contributor | Unsplash License | via Unsplash

Lee Joon-ho

CEO, Smilegate Holdings

Real-Time Net Worth

$1.1B

Estimated based on Smilegate Holdings stock value as of April 20, 2026

Age

Source

Online games

Industry

media-entertainment

Citizenship

Biography

Lee Joon-ho, born in 1964, is a prominent South Korean business executive and investor, with a current net worth of $1.1 billion. He gained prominence as a co-founder of Naver, South Korea's leading internet portal, and later as the chairman of NHN, Naver's online games business. Lee's wealth stems from his ventures in online games. His career includes developing search technology for the Empas web portal while an associate professor and founding Search Solution. He holds degrees from Seoul National University and KAIST. As of March 10, 2026, Lee Joon-ho holds the rank of #3185 on the Forbes Billionaires list.

Fact Checked

Verified by Editorial Team

Live Data

Updated 4/20/2026

Wealth Over Time

Portfolio Holdings

NHN

In-Depth Profile

Early Life and Education

Lee Joon-ho was born in 1964 in South Korea. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in computer science and engineering from Seoul National University. He furthered his education by receiving a Master of Science and a PhD from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Rise to Success

Lee Joon-ho is credited as a co-founder of Naver, South Korea's largest internet portal. He developed search technology for Empas, a web portal while working as an associate professor at Soongsil University. He later founded Search Solution, which merged with Naver.

He served various c-suite positions overseeing the overall management of NHN, the parent company of Naver. Lee left Naver in 2013, when NHN split into NHN Entertainment Corporation and Naver Corporation. In 2014, he acquired a 9.53% stake in NHN Entertainment, which rebranded to NHN in 2019.

Key Business Strategies

Lee is currently the chairman of NHN, which was Naver's online-games business until the two split in 2013. Lee sold $225 million worth of Naver shares in 2014 and another $115 million worth in 2016. NHN's businesses now span from online gaming and digital payments to e-commerce and cloud services.

Philanthropy

Specifics on Lee Joon-ho's philanthropic activities are not readily available in the search results.

Career Milestones

1999

Developed search technology for Empas

While an associate professor at Soongsil University, he developed search technology for Empas, a web portal.

2000

Founded Search Solution

Founded the independent company Search Solution with funding from Naver, which it eventually merged with in 2000.

2013

Left Naver

Lee left Naver when NHN split into NHN Entertainment Corporation and Naver Corporation.

2014

Acquired Stake in NHN Entertainment

He acquired a 9.53% stake in NHN Entertainment, which rebranded to NHN in 2019.

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