Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
With Samsung chief Lee dropping appeal, Cheong Wa Dae holds key
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters the Seoul High Court to attend a retrial of his bribery case held Jan. 18. / Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
By Kim Bo-eun
Two-and-half-year prison term finalized, eyes on Cheong Wa Dae for possible pardon
By Kim Bo-eun
Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong decided to accept a ruling by an appellate court last week in a bribery case that handed him a prison sentence, his legal representatives said Monday. Prosecutors also stated the same day they would not appeal the sentence.
This finalizes a two-and-a-half year jail sentence for Lee.
The Seoul High Court handed down the prison sentence to Lee, Jan. 18, for paying bribes to former President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil, in exchange for them allowing a smooth transfer of power from his father Lee Kun-hee. The Samsung Electronics vice chairman returned to prison the same day.
Samsung's leader was cited as saying he would "humbly accept the ruling." Lee is seen to have given up an appeal against the ruling as it appears unlikely the top court would overturn it.
The Seoul High Court held a final re-hearing of the case last week, after the Supreme Court ordered this in 2019, stating that Lee should be found guilty of some bribery charges excluded from a previous ruling.
The decision not to appeal is also seen to have been made to confirm the ruling, which raises the possibility of a pardon. If the trial stretched on, talks of a special pardon would not take place for some time, given this is only possible when a sentence is finalized.
CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun, the Samsung leader's cousin, appealed against an appellate court ruling in December 2015 that sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison for embezzlement, breach of fiduciary duty and tax evasion.
However, he dropped the appeal, after Cheong Wa Dae unveiled plans for special pardons. Lee was granted the pardon on the occasion of Liberation Day in 2016.
The late Lee Kun-hee also received a suspended sentence of three years in prison for multiple charges including embezzlement in 2008, but was granted a pardon by then President Lee Myung-bak.
Now all eyes are on Cheong Wa Dae. It is yet to be seen whether the presidential office will grant a pardon or a release on parole for the Samsung chief, but the issue of special pardons has been placed on the table for President Moon Jae-in, following calls for these to be granted to former Presidents Park and Lee.
Lee becomes eligible for a release on parole once he has served two thirds of his term. He spent a year in prison after he was convicted and imprisoned in 2017. He was released in 2018 after the Seoul High Court suspended the sentence.
With a one-and-a-half year prison term remaining, the view is that he may be subject to a release on parole after staying an additional six to eight months in jail.
Calls had grown from the business community for the court to grant leniency to Lee ahead of the hearing last week, considering the role Samsung plays in the local economy as the country's top conglomerate. Business leaders including the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman Park Yong-maan earlier submitted a petition containing such a request to the court.