Lee Jae-yong Holds His Ground as Netizens’ Top Business Icon
Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong has once again secured the top spot in the July 2025 Netizen Awards’ ‘Top Business Leader’ category, drawing 2,028 votes—or 36.1% of the total. After reclaiming the No.1 ranking in June, Lee managed to hold onto that position this month, backed by a dedicated fan base and steady public trust.
Shin Dong-bin Closes the Gap
The real suspense, however, came from the runner-up spot. Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin is inching closer, racking up 1,625 votes (28.9%) and narrowing the gap. Having once reached the top himself, Shin’s growing support base is making the next monthly results harder to predict.
Business Titans Battle It Out
- Hyundai Motor’s Chung Eui-sun took third with 824 votes (14.7%)
- Shilla Hotels’ Lee Boo-jin and Shinsegae’s Chung Yong-jin tied for fourth with 313 votes each (5.6%)
- LG head Koo Kwang-mo followed with 303 votes (5.4%)
- CJ’s Lee Jay-hyun earned 173 votes (3.1%)
- SK’s Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Group’s Hyun Jeong-eun, and Doosan’s Park Jeong-won rounded out the top 10
Each of these chaebol leaders—”chaebol” is the Korean term for large family-run conglomerates—brings a unique appeal. Some fans are drawn to charisma, like Lee Boo-jin, while others favor approachability, like Chung Yong-jin’s social-media-friendly image.
Fandom Isn’t Just for Idols Anymore
Fandom culture—once thought exclusive to K-pop idols and K-drama stars—is now fueling intense rivalries among Korea’s top executives. With monthly rankings and passionate online supporters, this CEO showdown is essentially a Hallyu-style popularity contest, just with boardrooms instead of stages.
What to Expect in August?
With Shin Dong-bin on the rise, could August shake up the leaderboard? One thing’s for sure—the fan-driven contest for Korea’s most beloved business figure is heating up. Who said CEOs can’t have fandoms too?
