Samsung Matriarch Hong Ra-hee Finalizes 3.1 Trillion Won Share Sale to Settle Inheritance Tax

Hong Ra-hee sells $2.1 billion in Samsung shares, marking the final payment of the family's record-breaking 12 trillion won inheritance tax.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 7:10 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Yonhap

Strategic Block Deal Concludes Multi-Year Tax Saga

Hong Ra-hee, the honorary director of the Leeum Museum of Art, has successfully disposed of 15 million shares of Samsung Electronics through an after-hours block deal. The transaction, valued at approximately 3.1 trillion won ($2.1 billion), was priced at 205,237 won per share, representing a 2.5 percent discount to the previous day's closing price. According to industry sources, the sale was orchestrated to secure the necessary liquidity for the sixth and final installment of the historic inheritance tax bill levied following the death of Lee Kun-hee in October 2020. This move effectively reduces Hong’s individual stake in the tech giant from 1.49 percent to 1.24 percent.

Five Year Installment Plan Reaches Completion

The Samsung family’s tax journey began in April 2021, when they opted to pay the massive 12 trillion won liability in six installments over a five-year window. This tax burden, roughly half of the late chairman’s 26 trillion won estate, is among the largest ever recorded globally. While Hong and her daughters, Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun, have largely relied on divestments in group affiliates to fund their shares of the bill, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has notably avoided selling his core holdings. Instead, the younger Lee has utilized substantial personal loans and dividend income to preserve his management control and ownership structure.

Stock Appreciation Eases Financial Burden

A significant factor in the timing of the final sale was the recent rally in Samsung Electronics’ share price, which climbed from approximately 139,000 won in early 2024 to over 200,000 won by April 2026. This appreciation allowed Hong Ra-hee to secure over 1 trillion won in additional funds beyond the original estimates made when she first entered a securities disposal trust agreement with Shinhan Bank. Financial analysts suggest that the surplus liquidity generated by the high share price will provide a comfortable buffer for the family’s remaining debt obligations and personal loan repayments.