Early Life
Lee Jay-hyun was born on March 19, 1960, in Seoul, South Korea. He is the eldest grandson of Lee Byung-chul, the founder of Samsung Group. His father, Lee Maeng-hee, was the eldest son of Lee Byung-chul. Lee attended Kyungbock High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in law from Korea University.
Rise to Success
Lee Jay-hyun began his career at Citibank in 1983. In 1985, at his grandfather's request, he joined CheilJedang, part of the Samsung Group. After the spin-off from Samsung, Lee took over CJ Group in the late 1990s and transformed it into a major conglomerate. In March 2002, he was appointed chairman and CEO of CJ Group.
Key Business Strategies
Under Lee's leadership, CJ Group underwent significant restructuring, mergers, and global expansion. The group diversified beyond its origins in food processing into biotechnology, entertainment, logistics, and media.
Philanthropy
Lee Jay-hyun is known for his philanthropic efforts. He has endowed the Lee Family Scholarship at Columbia College.