A bottle of beverage spotted inside the car of Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee is drawing attention. Given that every item Chairman Lee has chosen-clothing, footwear, and even simple daily necessities-has sold out instantly, there is growing curiosity as to whether this product will trigger another sold-out craze.All eyes are on whether it will spark another buying frenzy.

On the 26th, Chairman Lee departed for Washington, D.C., United States, via the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC) in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He is attending the gala event commemorating the 'Lee Kunhee Collection' exhibition.

Chairman Lee arrived at the airport in the afternoon wearing a suit with a navy padded vest. Behind Chairman Lee, who was holding a stack of documents in his left hand, a bottle of beverage caught attention through the gap of the open car door. It was Vietnamese coconut water, known as a natural ion drink.

The coconut water reportedly chosen by Chairman Lee is an organic product that claims to be fat-free, sugar-free, cholesterol-free, and gluten-free. With high potassium and electrolyte content and low calories, it is gaining popularity as a hydration beverage.

Pure Coconut Water. Screenshot from Coupang

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Allison Massey, a nutritionist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, USA, explained, "Coconut water contains less sugar and fewer calories than typical sports drinks, and is rich in potassium and antioxidants, making it a suitable choice after exercise or during long journeys."

Potassium helps the body expel sodium and contributes to muscle function, blood pressure, and heart rate regulation. Antioxidants suppress free radicals, thereby reducing the risk of aging and cardiovascular diseases.

Chairman Lee has long been nicknamed the ‘sold-out man.’ The Lansmere Golf cashmere vest he wore during a business trip to the United Arab Emirates in February 2024 sold out immediately after it was made public. Likewise, the Beanpole Golf padded vest from Samsung C&T that he wore on a business trip to Vietnam in December 2022 also sold out, including all restocked quantities.

The 'Lansmere Golf' padded vest (left) and Softlips lip balm used by Chairman Lee that became a hot topic. Yonhap News Agency

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The Arc'teryx padded jacket, priced at around 1.3 million won, which he wore while boarding the SRT with Chairman Marcus Wallenberg at Suseo Station in Seoul in 2019, also joined the ranks of sold-out items. The Softlips lip balm, which he used during the 2016 National Assembly hearing and cost about 2,300 won, became known as the ‘Jay Y. Lee lip balm,’ sparking a surge in overseas direct purchases and eventually leading to its official launch in Korea.

Meanwhile, Chairman Lee is scheduled to attend the gala event commemorating the 'Lee Kunhee Collection' exhibition in Washington, D.C., United States, on the 28th (local time). Other members of the Samsung family, including Hong Rahee, Honorary Director of the Leeum Museum of Art, Lee Boojin, President of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, President of Samsung C&T, are reportedly arriving in the U.S. on separate flights.