- Title: Titans of South Korean conglomerates face questions in political scandal
- Date: 6th December 2016
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (DECEMBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VEHICLES ARRIVING AT SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY POLICE OFFICERS STANDING FLAG OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SAMSUNG GROUP HEIR APPARENT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, JAY Y. LEE, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, ENTERING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING VARIOUS OF LEE SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, WALKING LEE WALKING VARIOUS OF CHAIRMAN OF HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP, CHUNG MONG-KOO, WALKING INTO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING WHILE SURROUNDED BY MEDIA CHUNG WALKING CHAIRMAN OF LOTTE GROUP, SHIN DONG-BIN, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, ENTERING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING SHIN SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, WALKING SHIN WALKING CHAIRMAN OF LG GROUP, KOO BON-MOO, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, ENTERING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING AND WALKING VARIOUS OF CHAIRMAN OF SK GROUP, CHEY TAE-WON, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, ENTERING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING AND WALKING VARIOUS OF CHAIRMAN OF HANJIN GROUP, CHO YANG-HO, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, ENTERING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING AND WALKING VARIOUS OF CHAIRMAN OF HANHWA, KIM SEUNG-YEON, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, ENTERING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING AND WALKING KIM WALKING HEADS OF CORPORATE GROUPS WALKING TOWARD PARLIAMENT HEARING VENUE
- Embargoed: 21st December 2016 02:47
- Keywords: parliament hearing chaebol president scandal Samsung Hyundai LG Hanjin Hanhwa park geun-hye SK
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BQW9XH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The heads of South Korea's biggest corporate groups arrived at the country's National Assembly on Tuesday (December 6) morning for an unprecedented hearing into the political scandal that appears poised to bring down President Park Geun-hye.
The corporate titans, headlined by Samsung Group heir-apparent Jay Y. Lee, ran a gauntlet of media and protesters as they entered the National Assembly building that sits along the southern bank of the Han River.
A parliamentary panel is investigating whether the conglomerates, known as chaebol, were pressured by Park or a friend and aide to give money to two non-profit foundations backing Park's policies in exchange for special treatment.
The chiefs of Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, Lotte, CJ, Hanjin and Hanhwa are questioned as witnesses.
It is the first time such a large group of major Korean corporate chieftains has appeared for a parliamentary hearing.
None of the chaebol, which are among 53 corporate groups that gave money to the foundations, has been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
Park faces an impeachment vote on Friday (December 9), 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.
Last week she asked parliament to find a way and a time for her to step down, an offer that was rejected by the opposition Democratic Party as a stalling tactic. Media reports said she may make a speech this week offering to step down in April, a recommendation made by her conservative Saenuri Party. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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