Broadcaster Lee Hyun-i (left) and her husband Hong Seong-gi pose at the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards at SBS Prism Tower in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on Dec. 30 last year. [Newsis]
Broadcaster Lee Hyun-i (left) and her husband Hong Seong-gi pose at the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards at SBS Prism Tower in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on Dec. 30 last year. [Newsis]

Model and broadcaster Lee Hyun-i has revealed she bought Samsung Electronics shares when the stock was trading at 50,000 won ($35) and has held them ever since. With Samsung Electronics now trading at 268,000 won, her estimated return stands at around 473 percent.

The disclosure came Tuesday on SBS variety show "Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny," in which the cast discussed investment strategies during a stock market downturn.

According to a preview clip, the cast turned their attention to Lee, widely known as the "Samsung wife." Her husband, Hong Seong-gi, works as a development engineer in Samsung Electronics' semiconductor division.

When fellow cast members asked about her investments, Lee said she had bought Samsung Electronics shares during the period when the stock was nicknamed "50,000-won Samsung" — a reference to when the price languished around that level — and had held on to them.

Samsung Electronics closed at 268,500 won Tuesday, putting the couple's estimated return at roughly 473 percent.

Lee Hyun-i. [Newsis]
Lee Hyun-i. [Newsis]

The revelation drew an envious reaction from the rest of the cast. "The real winner was right here among us," one cast member said.

Hong, who has worked at Samsung Electronics as an engineer for 18 years, announced his promotion to department head on the show last year.

Lee and Hong married in 2012 and have two sons together.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com