"The Interpreter Officer in the Photo is Lee Jae-yong's Eldest Son"... Second Lieutenant Lee Jiho Makes Surprise Appearance at ROK-U.S. Navy Meeting

Provided interpreting support at Republic of Korea-U.S. Navy Education Commanders' meeting

Commissioned after renouncing U.S. citizenship, serving with the 5th Mine Landing Brigade

It has been revealed that Second Lieutenant Lee Jiho, the eldest son of Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who is currently serving as a Navy interpreter officer, provided interpreting work at a high-level Republic of Korea-U.S. Navy cooperation meeting.

On September 9th, Kang Jung-ho (far right), Commander of the Navy Education Command, had a conversation with Gregory Huffman, Commander of the U.S. Navy Education Command, during a visit to the unit. The interpreter officer to the left of Commander Kang is Second Lieutenant Lee Jiho. Photo by the Defense Media Agency and Defense Daily

According to The Defense Daily and related reports on October 2, Second Lieutenant Lee assisted with interpretation at a cooperation meeting attended by Jung-ho Kang, Commander of the Navy Education Command, and Gregory Huffman, Commander of the U.S. Navy Education Command, on September 9.

In a photo released by The Defense Daily at the time, Second Lieutenant Lee can be seen performing interpreting duties behind Commander Kang. Although his attendance at the meeting was not separately disclosed at the time, it later attracted attention after he was identified in the published photo.

Provided interpreting support for a nearby unit... Facilitated communication between ROK and U.S. commanders

Second Lieutenant Lee is currently assigned to the Intelligence Operations Staff Office of the Republic of Korea Navy’s 5th Mine Landing Brigade. Due to a shortage of interpreter officers, he reportedly attended the meeting to support the work of the nearby Education Command.

The 5th Mine Landing Brigade is a subordinate unit directly under the Naval Operations Command, primarily responsible for mine warfare and amphibious operations. The unit also performs joint exercises and operations with foreign militaries, and interpreter officers support commander-level interpretation and information translation to facilitate communication.

This meeting was organized after Commander Kang suggested forming a regular consultative body during his visit to the U.S. Navy Education Command and Recruiting Command last year, and the United States agreed to the proposal.

Renounced U.S. citizenship to serve as a Navy officer, scheduled to complete service at the end of 2028

On the afternoon of January 28 last year, at the parade ground of the Naval Academy in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, during the 139th Navy and Marine Corps Officer Candidate Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Hong Ra-hee, Honorary Director of Samsung Museum of Art Leeum, are taking a commemorative photo with Second Lieutenant Lee Jiho. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Second Lieutenant Lee was born in the United States and held dual citizenship in Korea and the U.S., but he renounced his U.S. citizenship in order to serve as a Navy officer.

Under the current Nationality Act, dual nationals may retain both citizenships when serving as ordinary soldiers, subject to certain conditions, but must forfeit their foreign citizenship to be commissioned as officers.

Second Lieutenant Lee enlisted as a cadet for the 139th class of Navy Bachelor Officer Candidates in September last year, receiving 11 weeks of officer education and training at the Naval Academy. After being commissioned as a Navy second lieutenant at the end of November, he received initial military training and was subsequently assigned as an interpreter officer.

Second Lieutenant Lee is scheduled to be promoted to first lieutenant in December. After completing the required 36 months of service, he is expected to complete his military duty on November 30, 2028.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.