Seoul: Female members of the owner families of South Korea's 20 largest business groups received more than 500 billion won (US$351.5 million) in dividends last year, industry data showed Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a total of 577.9 billion won in dividends was paid to 101 female members of the families behind the top 20 conglomerates, marking a 7.1 percent decrease from the previous year, as per the data provided by the Seoul-based market tracker Leaders Index.
The list was led by three women from Samsung Group, who collectively received 409.4 billion won. Lee Boo-jin, the CEO of Samsung Group's hotel and retail affiliate Hotel Shilla, topped the list with 148.3 billion won in dividends. Her mother, Hong Ra-hee, director of the Leeum Museum of Art and the widow of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, came in second with 146.7 billion won. Lee Seo-hyun, the president of Samsung C and T's fashion division and a sister of Lee Boo-jin, followed with 114.4 billion won.
LG Group's family members were next, receiving a combined 38.3 billion won. Kim Young-shik, widow of the late LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, received 20.5 billion won, while the remaining amount went to her two daughters. The SK Group family took home a combined 33.8 billion won in dividends, followed by the DB Group family with 15.4 billion won, and Shinsegae Group with 14.8 billion won.