The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 3

    Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

  • 5

    Uhm Jung-hwa enjoys second heyday with JTBC series 'Doctor Cha'

  • 7

    Tom Cruise to visit Korea to promote new film

  • 9

    REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

  • 11

    S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute

  • 13

    Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

  • 15

    Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions

  • 17

    Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston

  • 19

    Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'

  • 2

    Senior citizens land low-wage jobs after retirement: report

  • 4

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 6

    LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life

  • 8

    Korea beats Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

  • 10

    3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment

  • 12

    Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine

  • 14

    Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition

  • 16

    Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection

  • 18

    K-food transforms global culinary industry

  • 20

    Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, June 6, 2023 | 18:26
Law & Crime
Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong arrested
Posted : 2017-02-17 05:43
Updated : 2017-02-18 21:16
Kim Bo-eun
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., is seen in his car at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Thurdsay, after attending a hearing on the legitimacy of his arrest sought for the second time by special prosecutors for alleged bribery related to the merger of two of Samsung's affiliates involving impeached President Park Geun-hye. The court approved the arrest warrant early in the morning the following day. / Yonhap
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., is seen in his car at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Thurdsay, after attending a hearing on the legitimacy of his arrest sought for the second time by special prosecutors for alleged bribery related to the merger of two of Samsung's affiliates involving impeached President Park Geun-hye. The court approved the arrest warrant early in the morning the following day. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun


Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was put behind bars Friday after a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for him on bribery charges in the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her close friend Choi Soon-sil.

Lee is the first leader in Samsung's 79-year history to be jailed on criminal charges. The independent counsel team investigating the scandal can detain Lee for up to 20 days before formally indicting him.

Judge Han Jung-seok of the Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant at 5:37 a.m., saying there were "sufficient grounds" for his arrest.

"Considering newly raised allegations and additional evidence, the need for confinement is recognized," Han said.

Lee avoided arrest last month when the court dismissed the counsel team's first request, citing a lack of evidence.

The claims against Lee revolve around a controversial merger between the electronics giant's construction arm, Samsung C&T, and another affiliate, Cheil Industries, in 2015. The merger was seen as critical for Lee to consolidate his leadership of the nation's biggest business empire.

The special prosecution team claims Samsung paid bribes totaling 43 billion won ($37.8 million) through two foundations set up by Choi in return for political support for the deal. Samsung has denied that it offered bribes or sought any favors from the President.

Following Lee's arrest, the counsel team said it would summon him to the team's office today for questioning.

"We will summon Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Saturday. We will make sure that we establish grounds to indict him," team spokesman Lee Kyu-chul said at a press briefing.

Lee's arrest is expected to give a fresh impetus for the team's push to question the President in person.

Korea Inc. faces more bad news
Korea Inc. faces more bad news
2017-02-17 16:42  |  Tech
Rating agencies downplay Lee's arrest
2017-02-17 17:03  |  Tech
Samsung affiliates stocks down over chief's arrest
2017-02-17 16:46  |  Economy
Samsung's 'house of mourners' [VIDEO]
Samsung's 'house of mourners' [VIDEO]
2017-02-17 14:17  |  Law & Crime
Leadership vacuum to engulf Samsung
Leadership vacuum to engulf Samsung
2017-02-17 09:16  |  Tech
Its attempt to hold face-to-face questioning of Park fell through after Cheong Wa Dae took issue with a media report disclosing the date of the interview.

On Thursday, the Seoul Administrative Court refused to allow the team to search Cheong Wa Dae, in a suit filed by the team, after it was denied entry into the presidential office earlier this month.

The court ruled that the team was not eligible to file a lawsuit and denied it the right to appeal, for the same reason.

However, at the briefing, the team spokesman said, "We will decide whether to appeal after reviewing the situation."

With the questioning of the President remaining, the team needs its mandate to be extended to continue the investigation.

The team asked acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn to extend its mandate, Thursday.

After the Samsung heir was arrested, Hwang will come under growing pressure to accept the counsel team's request to extend the mandate, which expires at the end of February.

At the same time, the team said it will call in former presidential aide Woo Byung-woo today.

"We will summon and question former presidential secretary Woo as a suspect on charges of abuse of power, at 10 a.m., Saturday," Lee said.

Woo faces charges of overlooking or abetting Choi, who did not hold a government post, in meddling in state affairs.

He allegedly attempted to obstruct an independent presidential investigator's probe into the Mir and K-Sports foundations, and exerted influence to get him dismissed.

With the arrest of its chief, Samsung Group could face a major management crisis that could adversely affect its succession plan.

Immediately after Lee was detained, Samsung issued a terse one-line statement, saying: "We will do our best to ensure that the truth is revealed in the upcoming court proceedings."

Lee is vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, but since his father, Lee Kun-hee, had a heart attack in 2014, he has been the de facto leader of the conglomerate.

Emailbkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets
2Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans
3[ANALYSIS] S. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps ANALYSISS. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps
4Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20% Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20%
5Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers
6Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally
7Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War
8Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms
9HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships
10Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
2Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
3Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
4[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
5'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group