Chung Yong-jin Net Worth

Chung Yong-jin has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Chung Yong-jin profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $1.4 billion in 2018.

Chung Yong-jin is a South Korean business executive who chairs Shinsegae, a retail conglomerate. He became better known through Shinsegae’s retail business and his role in E-Mart, the discount chain within the group. Forbes says much of his fortune comes from Samsung Electronics and E-Mart. In 2024, he moved up from vice chairman to chairman of Shinsegae, putting him at the center of one of South Korea’s best-known retail groups.

His wealth is tied to big retail and corporate holdings rather than a startup story. Forbes places him in Fashion & Retail and says he is not self-made. A notable Shinsegae move came in 2021, when the group bought the Korean baseball team SK Wyverns, now SSG Landers, from SK Group for about $120 million. Chung also uses his own Facebook account, followed by 65,000 people, to promote E-Mart products.

How Chung Yong-jin makes money

Chung’s money is mainly connected to large, established businesses. Forbes says the bulk of his fortune comes from Samsung Electronics and E-Mart, the discount chain that sits inside Shinsegae Group. That mix gives him exposure to both a major technology company and a major retailer. His public profile is closely tied to Shinsegae, where he became chairman in 2024 after serving as vice chairman.

Retail is the clearest theme in his business story. Shinsegae is a retail conglomerate, and E-Mart is one of its best-known units. In 2021, Shinsegae added another high-profile asset when it acquired SK Wyverns, now SSG Landers, for about $120 million. Chung also markets favorite E-Mart items on Facebook through his own account, which has 65,000 followers, blending executive visibility with product promotion.

What Forbes says about his fortune

Forbes has tracked sharp changes in Chung’s estimated wealth over time. It put him at $1.4 billion in 2018, then $1.1 billion in 2019. The estimate later rose to $1.9 billion in 2021 before moving down to $1.5 billion in 2022 and $1.2 billion in 2023. Those swings match the kind of changes often seen when a fortune is tied to large public-company stakes and a major retail business.

More recently, Forbes estimated his net worth at $1 billion on its 2025 World’s Billionaires list. As of October 20, 2026, Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker put him at $2.5 billion. The basic drivers stayed the same: holdings linked to Samsung Electronics and E-Mart, plus his leadership role at Shinsegae. His 2024 promotion to chairman also marked a bigger formal role inside the retail group tied to his wealth.