[Related Article / The Korea Economic Daily] Why Has Korea Not Produced Wallenberg or Hershey-Style Business Groups? [SEO & LEE’s Law and Business]

“What is the most meaningful way to pass on the company I have built over a lifetime?”

This question is frequently raised by veteran entrepreneurs approaching succession. It reflects a broader reality: preserving and transferring a business legacy often proves more challenging than building it. The issue extends beyond ownership—it encompasses continuity, governance, and the long-term sustainability of corporate values.

In Korea, several structural constraints complicate this process. The inheritance tax burden remains substantial, while evolving family structures have introduced increasingly complex and, at times, competing stakeholder interests. Against this backdrop, founders face growing uncertainty as to whether the growth trajectory, management philosophy, and core values they have established can be effectively maintained across generations.