"I Thought He Looked Familiar"... Lee Jae-yong's Eldest Son, Ensign Lee Ji-ho, Spotted Interpreting at South Korea-U.S. Navy Meeting

[Financial News]  It has only recently emerged that Ensign Lee Ji-ho, the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, has been serving as a Navy interpreter officer and interpreted at a cooperation meeting between the South Korean and U.S. Navy education commanders, drawing public attention.
According to Seoul Economic Daily and other outlets on the 2nd, Ensign Lee attended a South Korea-U.S. Navy Education Commanders' cooperation meeting held on the 9th of last month at the Republic of Korea Navy Education and Training Command in Jinhae District, Changwon City, South Gyeongsang Province. He interpreted the conversation between Kang Jeong-ho, commander of the Republic of Korea Navy Education and Training Command, and Gregory Huffman, commander of the U.S. Navy Education and Training Command.
The meeting was captured in photographs published by Kukbang Ilbo. When the photos were released, it was not known that Ensign Lee had been present. However, about three weeks later, the person in the photographs was identified as Ensign Lee, bringing the story renewed attention.
Ensign Lee is currently assigned to the Intelligence and Operations Staff Office of the Navy 5th Mine Warfare and Amphibious Flotilla. On the day of the meeting, he was reportedly sent to the site to support the work of the nearby Republic of Korea Navy Education and Training Command, which needed an interpreter.
Meanwhile, Ensign Lee was born in the United States and held dual South Korean and U.S. citizenship. He gave up his U.S. citizenship and enlisted to fulfill his military service obligation as a Navy officer. Under current law, dual nationals may retain their dual citizenship when serving as enlisted soldiers, but they must give up their foreign citizenship to serve as officers.
He entered the Republic of Korea Naval Academy last September as a naval officer candidate and was commissioned as an ensign in late November. Serving as an interpreter officer, he helps facilitate communication by interpreting for commanders and translating information.
Ensign Lee is scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant on December 1. After completing his 36-month mandatory service period following his commissioning, he is expected to be discharged on November 30, 2028.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter