[THE INVESTOR]  Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, the nation’s richest person, has seen his share value soar more than 20 percent this year, thanks to the company’s recent stock rally.

According to a local chaebol tracker Chaebul.com, the Samsung patriarch’s stock value was worth 13.38 trillion won (US$11.99 billion) as of Aug. 18, up 20.4 percent compared to Jan. 4, the first trading day of the year. 

The chairman currently owns 4,985,464 shares, or 3.5 percent, of the Korean tech giant.

Samsung shares have continued to rally in recent weeks. On Aug. 18, the price closed at an all-time high of 1.64 million won on the company’s upbeat smartphone and chip sales. The previous record was 1,576,000 won, set Jan. 2 in 2013.

His son, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong who owns 0.6 percent stake in the company, also saw his stock value surge to 1.37 trillion won. Considering all his shares in other Samsung companies, however, his stock value was down 1.1 percent to 7.52 trillion won from early this year.

Together with the Samsung chairman, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Chairman Lim Sung-ki was the only person to see growth in his stock value out of the nation’s top 10 stock richest.

Lim’s stock value increased 7.6 percent to 2.91 trillion won this year.

AmorePacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae, No. 2 among the stock richest, suffered a 2.4 percent decline in his stock value at about 8.99 trillion won, amid growing uncertainties in the Chinese market after the Korean government’s recent decision to deploy a new US-made missile system. Almost 70 percent of the beauty giant’s overseas sales come from China.

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, No. 4, also saw a 1.3 percent decrease to 4.43 trillion won largely due to Hyundai Motor’s sluggish sales in recent months.

Others in the top 10 list include: SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won (down 4.5 percent), CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun (down 17.8 percent), Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun (down 11.5 percent) and Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin (down 6.3 percent) and Samsung C&T fashion business chief Lee Seo-hyun (down 6.3 percent) -- the Samsung chairman’s two daughters.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)