A recent analysis by corporate tracker CEO Score revealed that the second generation of owners in 81 “middle market enterprises” in South Korea holds 33.5% of company shares. The study, focusing on firms with assets exceeding KRW2tr (USD1.44bn), found that these offspring control shares worth approximately KRW13.39tr as of mid-July. High ownership concentration is evident in families like Kim Yeong Jae’s, who inherited Daeduk Co, Ltd. and transferred shares to his daughters. Seven companies, including Woomi Co and TKG Taekwang, reported over 90% ownership by the second generation, indicating a near-complete generational transition. Meanwhile, Cosmax Group saw a significant share transfer from CEO Lee Byung-ju to his sons, highlighting a broader trend of rising stakes among the next generation within these key enterprises.