Samsung officially names third-generation heir Lee chairman
Samsung Electronics has officially appointed third-generation heir Lee Jae-yong as executive chairman, two months after he secured a pardon of his conviction for bribing a former president in a corruption scandal that toppled a previous South Korean government.
South Korea to release Samsung scion on parole
South Korea says it will release billionaire Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong on parole this week after he spent 18 months in prison for his role in a massive corruption scandal that triggered nationwide protests and led to the ouster of the country’s previous president.
Samsung reports profit jump driven by strong chip demand
A woman passes by an advertisement of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S21 Series smartphones at its shop in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. Samsung’s operating profit of 9.1 trillion won ($8.1 billion) for the October-December quarter represented a 26.4% increase from the same period a year before, while its revenue rose by 2.8% to 61.6 trillion won ($55.3 billion). The company’s operating profit for the full year of 2020 was at 36 trillion won ($32.3 billion), rising by more than 29% from 2019, according to a regulatory filing. Samsung saw its semiconductor business rebounded sharply last year after a sluggish 2019, driven by robust demand for PCs and servers as virus outbreaks forced millions of people to stay and work at home. PC demand remained strong, driven by Chromebooks, gaming notebooks and the release of new graphics cards and gaming consoles, the company said.
Samsung scion Lee won't appeal prison sentence for bribery
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. Samsung scion Lee will not appeal a court ruling that sentenced him to two and a half years in prison for bribing South Korea's then-president for business favors. But after mulling his options, Lee decided to “humbly accept” the High Court’s decision, his head attorney Injae Lee said. Prosecutors had sought a prison term of 9 years for Lee Jae-yong. It’s not immediately clear what his prison term would mean for Samsung's business.
SKorean court gives Samsung scion prison term over bribery
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. South Korean court sentences Lee to 2 and a half years in prison over corruption case. Samsung didn’t issue a statement over the ruling. Lee Jae-yong helms the Samsung group in his capacity as vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, one of the world’s largest makers of computer chips and smartphones. It isn’t immediately clear what his prison term would mean for Samsung.
Prosecutors seek 9-year prison term for Samsung chief Lee
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is questioned by a reporter upon arrival at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday requested a nine-year prison term for Samsungs de facto chief, Lee, during a retrial of his bribery charges. A team of prosecutors led by independent counsel Park Young-soo demanded the Seoul High Court sentence Lee to prison. Last year, the Supreme Court returned the case to the high court, ruling that the amount of Lee’s bribes had been undervalued. The Seoul High Court is to issue a ruling on Jan. 18, according to South Korean media reports.
Samsung reports record sales amid questions about future
FILE - In this June 8, 2020 file photo, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea. As Samsung Electronics mourns the death of its long-time chairman, Lee Kun-Hee, questions loom over what's next for South Korea's biggest company. The most crucial long-term question for Samsung is if it will evolve beyond being just a giant in memory chips, smartphones and display screens. Including the late Lee Kun-Hee’s 4.18% stake, the family combined holds a 5.79% of Samsung Electronics. But Samsung’s business likely would run smoothly even if Lee is imprisoned again, said Park Sangin, a professor at Seoul National University.
Lee Kun-Hee, force behind Samsung’s rise, dies at 78
Lee died with his family members by his side, including his only son and Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the company said in a statement. Lee Kun-Hee was convicted in 2008 for illegal share dealings, tax evasion and bribery designed to pass his wealth and corporate control to his three children. Lee Kun-Hee was a stern, terse leader who focused on big-picture strategies, leaving details and daily management to executives. Lee Kun-Hee resigned as chairman of Samsung Electronics before the 2008 conviction. “As South Korea’s most successful entrepreneur, (Lee Kun-Hee) received a dazzling spotlight, but he had many vicissitudes full of grace and disgrace,” the ruling Democratic Party said in a statement.
Samsung's Lee indicted over controversial 2015 merger
The charges against Lee and the other Samsung officials include stock price manipulation, breach of trust, and auditing violations related to the 2015 merger between Samsung C&T Corp. and Cheil Industries, said Lee Bok-hyun, a senior official from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office. It went ahead despite opposition from some shareholders who said the deal unfairly benefited the Lee family. Lee was freed in February 2018 after the Seoul High Court reduced his term to 2 years and suspended his sentence, overturning key convictions. However, months later the Supreme Court sent the case back to the High Court, saying that the amount of bribes Lee was judged to have offered was undervalued. Some legal experts say Lee could be sentenced to another term in jail if convicted again.