By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Lee Jong-wang, the head lawyer of the Samsung Group's legal department, resigned Friday, taking responsibility for the recent slush fund scandal caused by allegations from his predecessor Kim Yong-chul.
Kim, who worked as a lawyer for Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, said that the nation's largest conglomerate has run multiple borrowed-name accounts to create a slush fund to bribe prosecutors, taxmen and policymakers.
Lee sent an email to the executives of Samsung saying that he was sorry for the scandal being a burden to the entire group. He said he had tried to tone down the issue before Kim held two press conferences and several interviews to disclose what he cited as Samsung's irregularities, but failed. He claimed that what Kim is asserting is a lie and that it is, in fact, a personal matter.
Lee partially admitted that Samsung might well be involved in irregularities. ``In this society, nobody is clean,'' he said. But he still defended the company, saying that it was the most relatively clean organization he has ever seen.
A company spokesman said management tried to persuade Lee not to quit, but he had already made up his mind. He reportedly has returned his lawyer llicense to the Korean Bar Association and will not work as a lawyer anymore.
Lee led the company's legal department since 2004. He worked as a prosecutor for 20 years, and then for the nation's largest law firm Kim & Chang. During those days, he was highly acclaimed as a man with conscience and successful at winning case after case.
He passed the bar examination at the same time as President Roh Moo-hyun and Prosecutor-General Chung Sang-myung, which allegedly led to Samsung hiring him after Roh became the President.
Speculation is mounting over the exact reason for his resignation and how it will affect the future investigation into the giant group.
Some experts said it really was Lee's personal decision to take full responsibility for not having stopped Kim from ``dishonoring'' the group. Also, by stepping back, Samsung could gain an image of being supportive of the prosecution's investigation, as one of its most influential legal figures is gone, they said.
However, if it is found out that what Lee has said is false and the company is guilty, Lee could lose his reputation alongside the company, analysts said.
Meanwhile, a civic group and the prosecution are still feuding over whether to disclose the list of prosecutors who allegedly received bribes from Samsung. While prosecutors say that the list is essential to screen those listed from the investigation team, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy said establishing an investigation team should come first and the submission will come as the probe proceeds.
Prosecutors have already announced that separate probe will be launched into Samsung's alleged bribery and slush fund scandal on Monday.
Samsung said that it will officially take legal action against Kim Yong-chul for his ``false'' allegations about the company.