Lee Boo Jin: Heiress of Samsung, real-life prototype of the movie “Queen of Tears”.
“Queen of Tears” the movie that is making waves across the charts is based on the life of this SAMSUNG princess!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Korean dramas have a penchant for the country’s upper-crusters, but often, reality can pose interesting narratives that can rival any plot. Nothing could probably typify this more than billionaire Lee Boo Jin, who isn’t a stranger to public intrigue.
With her business acumen, fashion sense, and a marriage that rocked the news, the eldest daughter of Samsung Group’s family may as well be the blueprint for K-drama’s famous chaebols. Below, learn more about the illustrious heiress in our quick info sheet!
1. Lee Boo Jin’s family owns South Korea’s Samsung Group.
Behind the internationally renowned Samsung brand is the illustrious Lee family, the largest chaebol clan in South Korea. Lee Boo Jin’s grandfather, Lee Byung Chul, founded Samsung in 1938 as a trading company. Boo Jin is the daughter of the second-generation son Lee Kun Hee, who served as the Samsung Group’s chairman until his death in 2020. The heiress and businesswoman currently serves as an advisor for the trading department of Samsung C&T, the holding company.
2. Lee Boo Jin is the second child in her family.
Boo Jin’s father, Lee Kun Hee, had four children. She is preceded by the eldest and only son Lee Jae Yong and had two younger sisters: Lee Seo Hyun and Lee Yoon Hyung, who passed away in 2005.
3. Lee Boo Jin changed her name as a child.
Korean news outlets have reported that Boo Jin had a name change at the ripe age of three years old. As told by Chosun, Boo Jin was afflicted with several health issues growing up, exacerbated by speculations of diseases that could run in the family.
The young heiress was reportedly born as Lee Yoo Jin, but this was later changed to her current name for “better luck and a healthier body,” as the Korean public widely theorizes. “Boo” signifies “rich,” while having a stronger pronunciation than “Yoo.” According to reports, Boo Jin had appeared healthier after the change!
4. Lee Boo Jin is the president and chief executive of a top hotel in Seoul.
Dubbed “Little Lee Kun Hee” by the Korean media for her formidable business acumen, the billionaire has made a name for herself in the industry, too. Boo Jin helms Hotel Shilla as its president and CEO, which is toted as the oldest luxury hotel and one of the top lodging and conference centers in Seoul.
Several top stars even held their weddings here, including Jun Ji Hyun and her entrepreneur husband Choi Jun Hyuk, as well as Hallyu actors Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo. Alongside this, Hotel Shilla is also named South Korea’s biggest duty-free operator right after Lotte.
5. Lee Boo Jin is one of the world’s most powerful women, according to Forbes.
Boo Jin’s influence has echoed across the globe, and she has the titles to prove it. The billionaire has a constant ranking on Forbes lists, among them the world’s Power Women and Korea’s 50 Richest. In 2023, Boo Jin ranked 82nd in the world’s most powerful women, one out of two Koreans featured aside from Naver CEO Choi Soo Yeon. Meanwhile, Boo Jin is currently listed as the 10th richest person in South Korea with a net worth of $3.3 billion.
6. Lee Boo Jin graduated from a prestigious university.
While her siblings may have gone abroad for their college education, Boo Jin chose to stay in her homeland for her bachelor’s degree. The heiress earned her diploma for children’s studies at Seoul’s Yonsei University, a top-ranking institution with alumni like Parasite director Bong Joon Ho, K-drama star Park Gyu Young, and JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin Young.
7. Lee Boo Jin married an employee of the Samsung Group.
In 1999, Boo Jin made waves in the media when she tied the knot with Im Woo Jae, a former employee of a security company belonging to Samsung group. Due to their different social backgrounds, the marriage was highly controversial for both the general public and their families. However, their story didn’t get a happily-ever-after, as the pair’s union ended in a divorce settlement in 2020.
Speculations have also said that their story inspired the K-drama Queen of Tears, which revolves around an heiress (played by Kim Ji Won) marrying a lawyer from their family’s company (played by Kim Soo Hyun).
8. Lee Boo Jin is a mother to one child.
Boo Jin’s union with Im Woo Jae had birthed their only son. After their divorce in 2020, Boo Jin was ordered to pay 14.1 billion Korean won in an asset split, with the heiress receiving sole custody of their child. Boo Jin and her son have regularly been spotted enjoying quality time together, including supermarket trips and visiting basketball exhibitions, with her child being an enthusiast of the sport.
9. Lee Boo Jin is a fashion icon in South Korea.
K-drama chaebols are known for their knack for style, but their real-life counterpart may have served as the original inspiration. Boo Jin has earned a status as a fashion maven with her name landing high on “Top Fashion in Korea” lists. During her public outings, the heiress is usually spotted in pieces that highlight femininity and sophistication. Among them is a black purse from the French label Destree, which she sported during a wedding ceremony in 2023.
10. Lee Boo Jin is a philanthropist.
Aside from her famous business expertise, Boo Jin is also known for her philanthropic ways. The billionaire helms the Dooeul Scholarship Foundation as director, which nurtures the next generation of potential female leaders.
Various anecdotes have also recounted her proclivity for helping those in need. In 2020, Boo Jin reportedly offered rooms in the Hotel Shilla to survivors of a fire in Ulsan. Years ago, a taxi also crashed into the doors of the hotel, which injured a staff member and a guest. While the driver had to pay for the damages, Boo Jin also requested her staff to regularly check on his well-being, where they discovered that he lived in a humble one-room apartment with his ill wife.
