Park Yong-jin on Lee Jae-yong's Public Apology: "A Mere Token Gesture Falling Short of Even Excuses"

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is entering the press conference room on the 6th at the Seocho-dong headquarters to make a public apology regarding the succession of management rights, non-union management, and communication with civil society. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who issued a public apology regarding the succession of management rights, saying it was "nothing more than a token apology."

On the 6th, Park posted on his Facebook under the title "It is common sense for the public that appropriate punishment follows illegal acts," stating, "It is merely an evasion of moral responsibility and a legal self-exoneration that does not even reach the level of an excuse."

He said, "Replacing legal faults with moral issues and offering vague apologies is not a proper attitude of taking responsibility," adding, "Instead of making empty promises to do better in the future, a plan to resolve the various irregular, illegal, and unlawful acts committed so far should have been presented. Resolving the ongoing social controversy surrounding Samsung's management rights is the true way to take responsibility."

Referring to the apology letter from Lee Jae-yong’s father, Chairman Lee Kun-hee, 12 years ago, he emphasized, "Lee Jae-yong’s statement is also nothing more than a verbal declaration that can be discarded like a scrap of paper at any time," and "Correcting the illegal acts already committed means taking legal responsibility."

Addressing the retrial court (sentencing court), he said, "Lee Jae-yong must be properly punished in accordance with the Supreme Court’s intent," and warned, "The announcement of today’s statement should not grant him a pardon. If the court again imposes a light punishment on a chaebol head who dismisses all illegal acts committed so far as mere 'controversies,' public trust in the judiciary will plummet once again."

He also stated, "It is appropriate for the Samsung Compliance Committee to express a critical stance on Lee Jae-yong’s statement," adding, "A statement that does not accurately confess the wrongdoing is not an apology. If this statement is accepted, the Samsung Compliance Committee will be regarded as nothing more than a puppet of Samsung."

Earlier, Lee Jae-yong held a press conference at Samsung Seocho Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and directly issued a public apology regarding the succession of management rights and labor union issues.

Lee said, "In the process of Samsung growing into a global top-tier company, we failed to strictly comply with laws and ethics, causing disappointment and concern to the public," and added, "From now on, I will ensure that no further controversies arise regarding the succession of management rights. I do not intend to pass on the company’s management rights to my children."

Regarding labor-management issues, he reflected, "Samsung’s labor-management culture has not kept pace with the changes of the times. Recently, many employees have been on trial over cases involving Samsung Everland and Samsung Electronics Service," and expressed, "I deeply feel responsible."

This apology was made following the recommendation of the Samsung Compliance Committee. On March 11, the committee recommended that Lee Jae-yong, the head of the Samsung Group, reflect and apologize regarding the suspicions surrounding the succession of management rights, and ordered him to directly declare Samsung’s abandonment of its 'no labor union management' policy.

The first deadline for the public apology requested by the Compliance Committee was last month on the 10th, but Samsung requested an extension, citing delays in discussing the recommendation due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and the deadline was extended to the 11th of this month.

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