Korean online rumors circulate Samsung 'tax avoidance conspiracy theory': controlling family deliberately suppresses stock price until January next year.

BlockBeats news, October 29: Citrini analyst Jukan posted on social media stating that Samsung's current stock performance is lagging behind SK Hynix. This appears to be because Samsung's shareholder return plan is either less generous than initially expected or still shrouded in uncertainty.

Against this backdrop, a conspiracy theory is circulating in South Korea that Samsung management is deliberately avoiding bullish statements due to tax considerations involving controlling family member and Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

More specifically, Lee Jae-yong's mother, Hong Ra-hee, gifted Samsung shares to her son. The gift tax he owes is reportedly calculated based on the average closing price over the four-month period spanning two months before and after the gift date of November 12 (i.e., from September 12, 2026, to January 12, 2027). As a result, the Samsung controlling family has no incentive to drive up the stock price before January next year.