Samsung tycoon Lee Jae Yong inspires “Reborn Rich” Do Joon in terms of education background and personality 

Real-life Lee Jae Yong and serial Do Joon have many things in common that confirmed viewers’ speculations. 

“Reborn Rich” continues breaking its own record at 20% rating, surpassing any rating hit of cable TV series this year. After a while, viewers are starting to realize that the Soonyang family may take after the famous Samsung corporation in real-life Korea. From investment categories to family trees, all bear resemblance to the real-life model. Most importantly, Jin Do Joon played by Song Joong Ki refers to a notorious tycoon in Korea, Lee Jae Yong. 

Lee Jae Yong is the third-generation standing chairman of Samsung at the moment. He enrolled in and graduated from Seoul National University. Jin Do Joon in the series also has these two markers. He is the third-generation chaebol who graduated from the same prestigious university and the only person in the family able to do so. Viewers anchor on these similar points to speculate Lee Jae Yong is Jin Do Joon in real life. 

Above all, they are similar in characteristics. By popular belief, Chairman Lee is polite and gentle to outsiders, especially to reporters. On the contrary, he is decisive and even cold in business dealing to avoid unnecessary fallouts. Similarly, Do Joon is written as a decisive person but knows how to be flexible when he needs to recruit talents to his side. Thanks to his calm attitude and courtesy, he managed to escape death multiple times. 

The major difference is that Do Joon has to fight for Soonyang while Lee Jae Yong is the rightful heir to the conglomerate. Nonetheless, the two have to be talented and strong enough to carry this corporation on their shoulders. 

Image source: JTBC, Naver