Prosecutors Expected to Undergo Major Overhaul... Prolonged Investigations into Large Corporations Anticipated

Samsung Group Investigation Leadership Status in Focus
Investigation Team Disbandment and Reorganization Inevitable
Song Kyung-ho and Bae Seong-beom Mentioned in Samsung Biologics Probe
Key Role in Cho Kuk Family Investigation
Legal Circles Anticipate Personnel Changes
Kolon Group Investigation Follows Inbosa Suspicion
Trials of Hyosung, Daelim Industrial Also in Line
Prosecutor Personnel Changes Expected to Be Major Variable in Business Sector

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As personnel changes for the so-called 'Yoon Seok-yeol faction' of special investigation prosecutors are imminent, attention is focusing on the impact these changes may have on various ongoing investigations related to major conglomerates led by them.

On the 8th, many insiders from the business and legal sectors are paying particular attention to the positions of prosecutors investigating the Samsung Group case ahead of this month's prosecution personnel reshuffle. If these prosecutors are reassigned, the investigation teams will inevitably be dismantled and reorganized. This could disrupt the continuity of the investigations and potentially prolong them.

In fact, Song Kyung-ho, the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who is investigating the accounting fraud allegations against Samsung Biologics, and Bae Sung-beom, the Chief Prosecutor overseeing the case, are reportedly among those considered for personnel changes. The dominant view in the legal community is that they will be reassigned due to their central roles in investigating corruption allegations against former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and his family.

Seemingly mindful of this situation, the prosecution is accelerating its investigations related to Samsung. On the 7th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office summoned former Samsung C&T CEO Kim Shin. However, he was released after 1 hour and 30 minutes due to issues with legal representation. The prosecution intended to question Kim about whether Samsung C&T deliberately devalued the company by understating overseas construction orders just before its merger with Cheil Industries in 2015, and whether there was involvement at the group level, but the questioning was unsuccessful.

To thoroughly clarify these suspicions, the prosecution plans to summon Kim again for further questioning, as well as other top executives at the time, including Jang Choong-ki, Deputy Head of the Future Strategy Office, and Choi Ji-sung, Head of the Future Strategy Office. After concluding this investigation, they are expected to proceed with judicial actions such as indicting Samsung Biologics CEO Kim Tae-han.

From then on, Samsung's fate will be left to the court's judgment. Separately, the retrial of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's state affairs manipulation case is ongoing. On the 17th, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik is scheduled to be questioned as a witness. Lee Sang-hoon, Chairman of Samsung Electronics' Board of Directors, and Kang Kyung-hoon, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who are accused of orchestrating the Everland labor union dissolution, appealed after the first trial verdict last month and are awaiting the second trial.

Besides Samsung, many other companies are also under investigation and trial, making the prosecution personnel reshuffle a significant variable for the business community. Kolon Group, suspected in connection with the osteoarthritis treatment drug Invossa, is under investigation by the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Chief Prosecutor Kang Ji-sung). Cho Hyun-joon, Chairman of Hyosung Group, and Lee Hae-wook, Chairman of Daelim Industrial, have been indicted without detention on charges of unfair support to affiliates and are awaiting trial. Meanwhile, Cho Hyun-bum, CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology (formerly Hankook Tire), who was arrested and indicted on charges of embezzling several hundred million won of company funds, had his first trial this morning.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.