Exclusive
CJ 4th-generation heir Lee Sun-ho purchases Nonhyeon-dong building for 17 billion won

[비즈한국] An investigation by Bizhankook has confirmed that Lee Sun-ho, the 4th-generation heir to the CJ001040 Group and head of the Global Food Growth Strategy at CJ CheilJedang097950, recently purchased a building in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for 17 billion won. In addition to his stakes in CJ Group affiliates, Lee holds shares in the real estate development firm C&I Leisure Industry. It appears the acquired building will either be used as an office for his private companies or leased to external tenants.

According to the real estate industry and property registries, Lee Sun-ho, head of the Global Food Growth Strategy at CJ CheilJedang, purchased a neighborhood living facility building near Hakdong Neighborhood Park in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, on the 25th of last month for 17 billion won. The building consists of two basement levels and four floors above ground (with a total floor area of 1,195㎡) and was completed in January of last year. Lee signed the sales contract in late May of this year and completed the transfer of ownership about a month later. Given that no mortgage has been registered on the property by a financial institution, it appears the purchase price was paid entirely in cash.

Currently, the entire building is understood to be vacant. According to public records, the intended uses are designated as retail for the first floor, offices for the second through fourth floors, parking, stairwells, and storage in the first basement level, and a photo studio in the second basement level. In the future, Lee may use the building personally as an office for his private firms or generate rental income by bringing in tenants. As of the end of last year, in addition to his stakes in group affiliates such as CJ (3.2%), CJ Olive Young (11.04%), and CJ ENM (0.5%), Lee also holds a 51% stake in the real estate developer C&I Leisure Industry.

Lee Sun-ho is the 4th-generation owner of the CJ Group. As the eldest son of Chairman Lee Jay-hyun, he is considered a leading candidate to succeed to the group's leadership. He joined the group as a new recruit in June 2013 and was promoted from department head to executive (Management Leader) at CJ CheilJedang in December 2021. In the following year's regular personnel reshuffle, he became the head of the Global Food Growth Strategy division, responsible for the group's overseas food business. As of the end of last year, the group’s holding company, CJ, was held by Chairman Lee Jay-hyun (42.07%), Lee Sun-ho (3.2%), and his elder sister, Lee Kyung-hoo, head of Brand Strategy at CJ ENM (1.47%).

A CJ Group official remained cautious, stating, "It is difficult to confirm matters of a personal nature."