Why CERAGEM’s Founder Adopted CEO Lee Kyung-soo (2026)
Why CERAGEM’s Founder Adopted CEO Lee Kyung-soo (2026)
CERAGEM founder and chairman Lee Hwan-sung adopted the company’s CEO, Lee Kyung-soo, as his son in 2025 and gifted him 10% of the company’s total issued shares in 2026.
The Korean home-healthcare company announced the arrangement on October 20, 2026, describing it as the first stage of an ownership succession plan.
Why choose a professional manager as an adopted son and successor? In its official announcement, CERAGEM points to more than two decades of trust, management experience and a shared commitment to the company’s long-term future.
The announcement brings together a personal decision and a business transition.
For readers unfamiliar with CERAGEM, it also opens a window onto a Korean wellness company whose products range from spinal-care devices to massage chairs—and whose customer experience extends into café-style trial spaces.
What happened in CERAGEM’s succession plan?
The two main steps happened in different years. The adult adoption was completed in 2025. The share gift followed in 2026. October 20, 2026 is the date of the company’s announcement, rather than the date of the adoption.
The size of the gift also matters: it covered 10% of all issued CERAGEM shares. That is different from saying Lee Kyung-soo received 10% of the founder’s personal shareholding.
CERAGEM says the related gift-tax filing has been completed. Its statement describes a completed filing; it does not establish that all related tax has been paid.
Why did the founder adopt CEO Lee Kyung-soo?
According to CERAGEM, the founder’s choice reflects the CEO’s understanding of the business, execution skills, knowledge of the organization and vision for its future. The company says the two men considered business continuity, the company’s independence and long-term governance stability when choosing adult adoption as part of the succession arrangement.
That is the company’s stated explanation. The announcement does not set out the financial terms of any future transfers or a date for completing the wider succession process.
Who is Lee Kyung-soo?
Lee Kyung-soo joined CERAGEM as an entry-level employee in 2003. His career included strategy, marketing, and domestic and overseas sales. In 2017, he operated a dealership in Sichuan, China. He took charge of the Korean business in 2018 at the chairman’s request.
One milestone was the introduction of Wellcafe in 2019, which brought product trials into a café setting. The chronology helps explain why the company presents the succession as a decision built on a long working relationship.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Joined CERAGEM as an entry-level employee. |
| 2017 | Operated a dealership in Sichuan, China. |
| 2018 | Took charge of the Korean business. |
| 2019 | Introduced Wellcafe. |
| 2025 | Adult adoption was completed. |
| 2026 | Received 10% of all issued shares; the company announced the succession arrangement on October 20. |
What does CERAGEM make?
Founded in 1998, CERAGEM is a Korean home-healthcare company. Two of its established product ranges are MASTER V, its spinal-care medical devices, and PAUSE M, its massage chairs. These are distinct product categories; the massage-chair range should not automatically be described as a range of medical devices.
The company’s portfolio also includes beauty devices such as Medispa. This broader range helps explain the move toward spaces where customers can try several types of products in one visit.
From Wellcafe to Welllounge: an important 2026 update
If you know CERAGEM through Wellcafe, there is a newer name to recognize. On August 10, 2026, the company announced the renewal of around 110 Wellcafes nationwide as Welllounges, expanding the café-based trial concept into a membership lounge with structured wellness programs.
Some stores had already been operating in the new format before that announcement. The release describes areas for trying spinal-care devices, massage chairs and beauty devices, alongside other product zones.
Wellcafe remains relevant to the company’s history, while Welllounge is the name used in its current official guide. Readers looking for a store or a product trial can consult CERAGEM’s Welllounge page for current information.
How large is CERAGEM’s business?
In its April 13, 2026 results announcement, CERAGEM reported the following consolidated figures for the 2025 financial year:
| Metric | 2025 result |
|---|---|
| Revenue | KRW 549.8 billion |
| Operating profit | KRW 25.8 billion |
These are 2025 results published in 2026. They provide context for the scale of the business involved in the succession; they do not establish the value of the gifted stake.
What happens next?
CERAGEM describes the 10% share gift as the first stage of succession and says it will continue reviewing medium- and long-term plans. The announcement should therefore not be read as confirmation that the entire ownership handover is complete.
On the business side, the company presented its AI Wellness Home vision at CES 2026. The concept treats the home as a connected health-management space, bringing together products, AI-based personalized healthcare and data-centered services. It is a stated strategic vision, rather than evidence that every proposed function is already commercially available.
The succession story connects the manager who helped develop CERAGEM’s customer experience with a wider ambition for wellness at home. The confirmed ownership step is the 10% share gift. The next stages remain a matter for future company announcements.
Information checked on October 20, 2026. This article is based on CERAGEM’s official announcements and website; the reasons given for the succession are attributed to the company.
Why CERAGEM’s Founder Adopted CEO Lee Kyung-soo (2026)
- CERAGEM’s ownership succession announcement — October 20, 2026 (Korean).
- CERAGEM’s 2025 consolidated results and AI Wellness Home vision — April 13, 2026 (Korean).
- The renewal of Wellcafe as Welllounge — August 10, 2026 (Korean).
- CERAGEM’s product release featuring MASTER V9 and PAUSE M8 Fit Art Edition imagery — August 3, 2026 (Korean).
- Official Welllounge guide — accessed October 20, 2026 (Korean).
:: Recent Posts ::
