His grandfather Lin Fen was an ordinary laborer, who moved to Fenqihu to work on extension of the railroad through there. He later opened a dry goods store that also sold rice snacks, alcohol, and cigarettes. Lin Yifang, Lin Jinkun's father, started off in business by running a roadside noodle stand.
他的祖父林份當年是名小工頭，因鐵路開墾而定居奮起湖，後來經營柑仔店（雜貨店），兼賣碗粿、菸酒；父親林儀芳則以經營小麵攤起家。