Dividend Income

Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.
Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

 

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee was the person with the greatest dividends from the sales activities of Korean companies as of the end of the fiscal year of 2013. Hong La-hee, director of the Samsung Museum of Art and wife of the Chairman, took the highest rank for a woman.

The survey was made by Chaebul.com and the result was announced on March 6. The financial information provider surveyed 713 companies that made an announcement of dividend payments between January 1 and March 5 this year. The interim dividends were included in the sum of the major stockholders and affiliated persons for the 2013 fiscal year.

Chairman Lee earned over 100 billion won in dividends, and has remained on top for four consecutive years. He received 107.86 billion won (US$101.7 million) from Samsung Electronics, Samsung Life Insurance, and Samsung C&T. The total amount increased 4.4 percent from a year earlier.

His wife ranked fourth on the list with 15.49 billion won (US$14.61 million) and his son, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, took the 11th spot with 12.02 billion won (US$11.33 million). Their dividends went up by 78.8 percent year-on-year for them to join the 10 billion won list. The three family members’ total combined dividend income is 135.37 billion won (US$127.65).

In the meantime, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo followed the head of the electronics manufacturer with 49.5 billion won (US$46.7 million), 2.4 percent up from a year ago. Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chung Eui-seon received 22.89 billion won (US$21.59 million), which has increased by 1.6 percent year-on-year.

Third place went to SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won, whose dividend amount rose 19.9 percent to 28.57 billion won (US$26.95 million). LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo ranked fifth, as his dividend income decreased by 0.8 percent to 19.22 billion won (US$18.12 million).

CJ Group head Lee Jae-hyeon’s dividends soared by 45 percent from the preceding year to 11.83 billion won (US$11.16 million). He joined the 10 billion won list for the first time, ranking 12th. In contrast, ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker and Seoul City mayorial candidate Chung Mong-joon and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Chairman Chung Mong-yoon had to see their dividends fall 20 percent and 47.6 percent to 15.44 billion won (US$14.56 million) and 10.72 billion won (US$10.11 million), respectively.

According to the result of the survey, the number of those with more than 10 billion won of dividends amounted to 13. A total of 199 persons received at least one billion won in dividends, and 1,094 shareholders were given more than one billion won. Women totaled 222 out of the 1,094 stockholders, or 20.3 percent. Following the first ranker Hong La-hee, Shinsegae Group Chairperson Lee Myeong-hee was the second ranker among them, Her dividends fell 2.1 percent from a year ago to 8.94 billion won (US$8.43 million).

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