Hong Ra-hee, widow of late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee, has sold a large block of shares in Samsung Electronics to meet the final installment of the family's inheritance tax bill, marking the closing chapter of one of South Korea's largest estate tax cases. On April 8, 2026, Hong, honorary director of the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, sold 15 million Samsung Electronics shares through a block deal after market close. The transaction raised about 3.16 trillion Korean won (approximately $2.36 billion), according to multiple business reports.
The sale represented roughtly 0.25% of Samsung Electronics' outstanding shares and was priced between 204,395 won and 208,605 won per share. That range reflected a modest discount of about 0.9-2.9% from the day's closing price of 210,500 won.
Major financial institutions including Citi Global Markets Securities, JP Morgan, Bank of America, UBS adn Shinhan Investment Corp. helped coordinate the deal. Structuring the transaction as a block trade allowed the shares to be sold off-market, limited potential disruption to Samsung's stock price.
Hong had earlier prepared for the sale by signing a securities disposal trust contract with Shinhan Bank in January 2026. The agreement stated the proceeds would be used to secure funds for inheritance tax payments and repay loans.
At the time of that agreement, Samsung Electronics shares were trading at about 139,000 won, valuing the entrusted 15 million shares at around 2.085 trillion won. However, Hong's advisers delayed the sale while monitoring market conditions.
Their decision proved advantageous. By April, Samsung’s share price had climbed to 210,500 won following a broader market rally, allowing the sale to generate more than 1 trillion won above the earlier estimated value. As Maeil Business Newspaper reported, "By observing the rising trend of Samsung Electronics’ stock price, Hong’s team was able to secure over 1 trillion won more than initially anticipated."
Following the transaction, Hong’s stake in Samsung Electronics fell from 1.49% to 1.24%, leaving her with about 72.98 million shares. Analysts said the reduction is unlikely to significantly affect the company’s governance or share price stability. As Seoul Economic Daily noted, "Hong Ra-hee’s sale of 15 million shares will reduce her stake to 1.24%, but the block deal method is expected to limit market disruption."
The sale forms part of the Samsung family’s strategy to settle an inheritance tax bill of about 12 trillion won incurred after Lee Kun-hee’s death in October 2020. The family chose to pay the tax in six installments over five years under Korea’s staggered payment system.
Market observers say the final payment could remove a major financial overhang for the family. As one industry observer told Maeil Business Newspaper, "The end of the inheritance tax installment period could allow the Samsung family to concentrate on management stability and future strategy."
