GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo earned the most among chief executives of large listed Korean companies in the first half with his paycheck reaching 5.2 billion won ($4.74 million). Among paid executives, Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun in charge of the electronics giant’s device solution (DS) division remained first, earning 2.9 billion won, according to their filings to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Tuesday.

Huh was most well-paid among conglomerate owners that are registered board directors subject to disclosure, earning 3.9 billion won from his interests in GS Holdings and 1.3 billion won from GS Engineering & Construction Corp. His salary nearly tripled from 1.8 billion won in the first half of last year thanks to bonus from oil refiner.

Following Huh, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo earned 4.2 billion won in total - 2.4 billion won from Hyundai Motor Co. and 1.8 billion won from Hyundai Mobis Co. His compensation in the first half of this year was the same as that in the same period of last year. His son, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman, Chung Euisun got paid 661 million won from Hyundai Motor.

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho came next, having been paid 4.1 billion won. He received 1.8 billion won from Korean Air Lines Co., 1.6 billion won from Hanjin Kal Corp. and 674 million won from Hanjin Transportation Co. His compensation from Korea Airport Service Co. was not disclosed as he is not a registered executive there. He got nothing from troubled Hanjin Shipping Co.

LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo got 3.9 billion won, up from 3.4 billion won from the first half of last year. His compensation consisted of 1.9 billion won in salary and another1.9 billion won in bonus. The group gave him higher bonus as its operating profit last year increased 9 percent from the previous year. When including severance pay, Huh Seung-jo, vice chairman of GS Retail Co., got the highest pay of 6.5 billion won.

Among non-owner families, Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun retained the rank as the highest-paid CEO, having picked up 2.9 billion won in the first half of this year. His compensation was similar to 2.95 billion won in the first half of last year. Shin Jong-kyun, president and CEO of IT and Mobile Communications division, received 1.66 billion won and Yoon Boo-keun, CEO of Consumer Electronics division, 1.64 billion won.

Not many owners of top conglomerates disclose their pay as they are not registered board members. Samsung Group family members do not disclose their salaries except for eldest Lee Boo-jin, president of Hotel Shilla.

Group owners typically top the list of highest-paid CEOs in the first half while professional executives tend to dominate the year-end salary rank as they receive high compensation in latter half from performance-related bonus.

By Choi Jae-won and Lee Yong-gun

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