Photo published in Sept. 9 edition of Defense Daily

Lee Ji-ho served as interpreter during meeting between Korean, US Navy education commanders

Navy Education Command Commander Vice Adm. Kang Jeong-ho (far right) speaks with US Navy Training Command Commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman during the latter's visit to the base on Sept. 9. The interpreter officer seated to Kang's right is Ensign Lee Ji-ho. [Korea Defense Support Agency / Defense Daily]
Navy Education Command Commander Vice Adm. Kang Jeong-ho (far right) speaks with US Navy Training Command Commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman during the latter's visit to the base on Sept. 9. The interpreter officer seated to Kang's right is Ensign Lee Ji-ho. [Korea Defense Support Agency / Defense Daily]

Photos of Lee Ji-ho, 25, a Navy ensign and the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Daesang Holdings Vice Chairwoman Lim Se-ryung, have emerged showing him on duty as an interpreter officer.

According to Defense Daily, Lee served as interpreter on Sept. 9 when Navy Education Command Commander Vice Adm. Kang Jeong-ho met with US Navy Training Command Commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman to discuss cooperation on developing elite personnel and recruitment systems.

A photo published in Defense Daily at the time shows the two commanders seated across from each other on sofas, with Lee sitting just behind and to the right of Vice Adm. Kang, attentively listening to the Korean commander's remarks. Lee appears to be holding a small notebook, his full attention fixed on Kang. Other attendees — including a woman believed to be the US side's interpreter — are looking toward Lee.

Lee is assigned to the intelligence and operations staff office of the Navy's 5th Mine and Amphibious Warfare Flotilla, but he was present to assist with interpretation duties for the nearby Education Command. It is common for interpreter officers to support neighboring units regardless of their own assignment, given a shortage of such personnel.

The 5th Flotilla, to which Lee belongs, is one of the Navy's core units responsible for mine warfare and amphibious operations under the Naval Operations Command. Its interpreter officers support combined operations with foreign militaries and facilitate communication with foreign commanders.

Lee entered the Naval Academy as an officer candidate in September last year and was commissioned as an ensign in late November. He is scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 1, and his total service period is three years, with a discharge date of Nov. 30, 2028.


jshan@heraldcorp.com