A new elite of uber-rich entrepreneurs is shooting up the wealth rankings in South Korea, overtaking the families behind the country’s decades-old sprawling conglomerates. The new rich offer a silver lining for younger folks by showing how fortunes can be made independently, rather than from inheritance. That image of South Korea is slowly giving way to one full of booming startups. With the spurring demand in sectors such as e-commerce, entertainment and biotechnology, an investor frenzy is fueling billions of dollars in fundraising, initial public offerings and acquisitions.
Here are the top 10 richest people in South Korea.
| Rank | Name | Net Worth |
| 1. | Kim Beom-su | 11.2 billion |
| 2. | Jay Y. Lee | 10.5 billion |
| 3. | Kwon Hyuk-bin | 9.1 billion |
| 4. | Seo Jung-jin | 8.7 billion |
| 5. | Kim Jung-ju | 8.3 billion |
| 6. | Michael Kim | 6.7 billion |
| 7. | Hong Ra-hee | 6.4 billion |
| 8. | Mong-Koo Chung | 5.0 billion |
| 9. | Bom Kim | 4.8 billion |
| 10. | Lee Boo-jin | 4.0 billion |
