Changwon: The son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has commenced his military service as a Navy officer candidate, marking the start of his mandatory military duty in South Korea. Lee Jee-ho, 24, entered the Jinhae Naval Base Command in Changwon aboard a minivan on Monday afternoon, following the company's announcement last week that he would renounce his U.S. citizenship to complete his compulsory service.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee Jee-ho, who was born in the United States in 2000, had been a dual citizen before deciding to give up his American citizenship for the sake of fulfilling the South Korean military requirement. Accompanied by family members, the younger Lee arrived at the naval base to begin his 11-week officer candidate training program. Upon completion, he is set to be commissioned as an ensign on December 1 and will serve a total of 39 months in the military.
In South Korea, it is mandatory for all able-bodied men to serve in the military for at least 18 months. The decision by Lee Jee-ho, the son of a prominent business leader, to embark on his military service underscores the importance of this national duty, regardless of personal or familial stature.