By Seo Jee-yeon
Staff Reporter
LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo adopted his nephew as a son last month, according to LG group officials Tuesday.

``The chairman adopted the only son of his younger brother Koo Bon-neung, chairman of Heesung Group to take care of family affairs as dictated by Confucian rules,’’ the officials said.

Stepson Kwang-mo, 26, is temporarily absent from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and working for a local information and technology solution provider for his public service instead of serving in the army.

``The decision was made in a family meeting about traditional roles of the eldest son as family head, including the memorial service for ancestors.’’

The group chairman, who also takes responsibility of family affairs as the eldest son of the group’s honorary chairman Koo Cha-kyung, has no son and two daughters.

However, the group officials dismissed a possible link that the adoption is related to the group’s succession matter.

``LG Group family members has respect for the traditional eldest son-led system under Confucianism,’’ the group said.

As Kwang-mo returns to school next year after finishing the alternative to military service, it will take some time to see what kind of change he might bring in the group’s succession process with the most likely entry to LG, industry watchers said.

As to the group ownership successor candidates, so far, LG.Philips LCD vice chairman

Koo Bon-joon, one of three younger brother of the incumbent group

chairman, has been ranked at the top.

jyseo@koreatimes.co.kr