Samsung Group leader vows to avoid future political scandals

Record ID: 76043

  • Title: Samsung Group leader vows to avoid future political scandals
  • Date: 6th December 2016
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (DECEMBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION SESSION IN PROGRESS CHAIRMAN OF CJ GROUP, SOHN KYUNG-SHIK (FAR LEFT), CHAIRMAN OF LG GROUP, KOO BON-MOO (SECOND FROM LEFT), CHAIRMAN OF HANHWA, KIM SEUNG-YEON (THIRD FROM LEFT), CHAIRMAN OF SK GROUP, CHEY TAE-WON (FOURTH FROM LEFT), SAMSUNG GROUP HEIR APPARENT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, JAY Y. LEE (FOURTH FROM RIGHT), CHAIRMAN AND SECOND SON OF LOTTE GROUP, SHIN DONG-BIN (THIRD FROM RIGHT), CHAIRMAN OF HANJIN GROUP, CHO YANG-HO (SECOND FROM RIGHT), CHAIRMAN OF HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP, CHUNG MONG-KOO (FAR RIGHT), SITTING LEE SITTING SOUTH KOREAN CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL COMMITTEE, KIM SUNG-TAE (FAR LEFT), HITTING GAVEL SOHN, KOO, KIM, CHEY, LEE, SHIN, CHO, AND CHUNG STANDING AND MAKING OATH KIM (FAR LEFT), CHEY (SECOND FROM LEFT), LEE (SECOND FROM RIGHT), AND SHIN (FAR RIGHT), MAKING OATH CHO (LEFT) AND CHUNG (RIGHT) MAKING OATH SOHN, KOO, KIM, CHEY, LEE, SHIN, AND CHO SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SAMSUNG GROUP HEIR APPARENT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, JAY Y. LEE, SAYING: "We've made people concerned and worried due to this case, and I'm very well aware of that. I came here with a heavy heart. I will make sure to be thorough to prevent any involvement with a shameful scandal in the future." MEMBER OF SOUTH KOREA'S MAIN OPPOSITION THE MINJOO PARTY, AHN MIN-SUK (LEFT), HOLDING POSTER AND SITTING, AND SOUTH KOREAN MEMBER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SITTING / LETTERS ON POSTER READING (Korean): "CHAEBOL (CONGLOMERATE) IS ALSO AN ACCOMPLICE" SOHN, KOO, KIM, CHEY, LEE, SHIN, CHO, AND CHUNG SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SAMSUNG GROUP HEIR APPARENT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, JAY Y. LEE, SAYING: "There are often requests from various parts of society including culture and sports. We have never contributed (to them) seeking quid pro quo. It was the same in this case." AHN (CENTRE) AND SOUTH KOREAN MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SITTING MEMBER OF SAENURI PARTY, LEE MAN-HEE, SPEAKING CHEY (LEFT), LEE (CENTRE), AND SHIN (RIGHT), SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SAMSUNG GROUP HEIR APPARENT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, JAY Y. LEE, SAYING: "I will take all responsibility related to the current situation, legal or ethical, if there are any." SOUTH KOREAN MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SITTING AND LOOKING AT DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATION SESSION IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2016 04:51
  • Keywords: parliament hearing chaebol president scandal Samsung Jay Y Lee Hyundai LG Hanjin Hanhwa SK park geun-hye
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BQW56T
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee said on Tuesday (December 6) he will work to ensure South Korea's top conglomerate avoids becoming involved in scandals such as the current influence-peddling allegations surrounding President Park Geun-hye.
    Lee and eight other heads of domestic conglomerates are testifying at a parliament hearing on whether Park or a friend of the president pressured them to give money to non-profit foundations for preferential treatment.
    "We've made the people concerned and worried due to this case, and I'm very well aware of that. I came here with a heavy heart. I will make sure to be thorough to prevent any involvement with a shameful scandal in the future," said Lee.
    "I will take all responsibility related to the current situation, legal or ethical, if there are any," he added.
    He also said Samsung Group did not give financial support to foundations in order to get something in return.
    Samsung donated 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations, the most of any group, and prosecutors raided its offices last month.
    Park faces an impeachment vote on Friday (December 2), setting the stage for her to be the first democratically elected South Korean leader to leave office early in disgrace.
    Huge demonstrations have called for her to quit and her approval rating has plunged to just 4 percent.
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