SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The heir apparent of Samsung Group, South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate, arrived on Thursday morning in the office of an independent counsel investigating a scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye for questioning.
TV footage showed that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong got out of a black sedan at about 9:30 a.m. local time and told reporters that he felt "very sorry to people" for this matter. Lee bowed his head before going inside the special prosecutor office.
Lee will be questioned as a suspect in the influence-peddling scandal. Samsung is suspected of having provided the biggest donations among scores of conglomerates to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi Soon-sil, President Park's longtime confidante at the center of the scandal.
Samsung also signed a 22-billion-won (18.6 million U.S. dollars) contract with a German company, owned by Choi and her daughter, to provide financial assistance for the daughter's equestrian training. The company also offered 16.3 billion won to a winter sports center managed by Choi's niece.
Suspicion was raised that the financial assistance was provided in return for getting support in the merger in July 2015 of two Samsung affiliates to create a de facto holding company.
The merger between Samsung C&T, a construction unit, and Cheil Industries, a former de facto holding company, was extremely crucial to the management control transfer to the vice chairman from his father Chairman Lee Kun-hee who has been hospitalized for heart attack since May 2014.
President Park and Vice Chairman Lee met face-to-face around the time of the merger. If any quid pro quo deals are proven between Lee and Park or between Lee and Choi, convicts can be sentenced to the maximum of life in jail.
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S. Korean independent counsel to question Samsung heir apparent for bribery charge
SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- An heir apparent of Samsung Group, South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate, is to be questioned by an independent counsel team investigating a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.
The team's spokesman told a press briefing on Wednesday that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will be summoned at 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday for questioning. Full story
S.Korean prosecutors raid Samsung on bribery allegation involving president's confidante
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday raided the headquarters of Samsung Group, the country's biggest conglomerate, on bribery allegations involving President Park Geun-hye's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.
Choi has been charged with extorting 77.4 billion won (about 70 million U.S. dollars) from 53 conglomerates, including Samsung, to set up two non-profit foundations she actually controls. Full story
Suspicion grows on link between Samsung, S. Korean president's confidante
By Yoo Seungki
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Suspicion is growing over a secret link between Samsung Group, South Korea's biggest family-run conglomerate, and President Park Geun-hye's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil who has been indicted for criminal acts in conspiracy with the embattled president.
Choi was charged by prosecutors on Sunday with multiple counts including abuse of power and extortion. Park was identified as an accomplice to Choi, becoming the first sitting president of South Korea to be investigated as a suspect. Full story
