SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong received the highest dividend payout among South Korean business leaders in 2024, collecting 346.5 billion won ($260 million), according to a report by corporate analysis firm Leaders Index.
Lee's dividend earnings rose by 22.8 billion won from 323.7 billion won in 2023, cementing his status as the country’s top dividend recipient.
Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo ranked second with 189.2 billion won, followed by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun with 174.7 billion won. Three Samsung family members — Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin, former Leeum Museum Director Hong Ra-hee, and Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun — secured the fourth through sixth positions, with payouts of 148.3 billion, 146.7 billion, and 114.5 billion won, respectively.
The total dividend distribution from 560 surveyed companies reached 40.71 trillion won in 2024, marking a 10.4 percent increase from 36.86 trillion won the previous year.
Leaders Index attributed the rise to SK hynix doubling its dividend payments on the back of record earnings, as well as a broader shift among companies to expand dividends in line with government policies aimed at enhancing corporate value.
Seven companies distributed dividends exceeding 1 trillion won, led by Samsung Electronics at 9.81 trillion won, followed by Hyundai Motor at 3.15 trillion won and Kia at 2.56 trillion won. SK hynix posted the largest year-on-year increase, raising its dividend by 84.1 percent to 1.52 trillion won.
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