Prosecutors Re-summon Choi Ji-sung, Former Samsung Strategy Office Chief, Over Merger Allegations

Former Samsung Future Strategy Office Chief Choi Ji-sung is attending the second retrial hearing of the state affairs manipulation case at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating allegations related to the merger of Samsung Group's Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T has summoned and questioned Choi Ji-sung, former head of Samsung's Future Strategy Office (69), again.

The Economic Crime Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Bok-hyun) summoned and questioned former Director Choi on the morning of the 19th.

The prosecution is reported to have questioned former Director Choi about the overall decision-making process within the group’s top management during the 2015 merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries.

Former Director Choi served as head of the Future Strategy Office (FSO) from 2012 until he resigned in 2017 after being implicated in the state affairs manipulation scandal. Until then, he was considered the 'second-in-command' of Samsung Group and was said to have wielded tremendous influence within the group.

The prosecution believes that as head of the FSO, former Director Choi directed the restructuring of the ownership structure to facilitate the succession of management rights to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (52).

Accordingly, the prosecution first summoned former Director Choi for questioning in February and has called him several times since then.

The prosecution is reportedly planning to complete the investigation into the merger allegations within this month and decide whether to take legal action against the main suspects.

Meanwhile, in legal circles, there is speculation that Vice Chairman Lee’s summons for questioning is imminent.

Vice Chairman Lee departed on the 17th to inspect the semiconductor plant in Xi'an, China, and is scheduled to return on the same day.

It appears that Vice Chairman Lee will not undergo self-quarantine. This is due to the 'Fast Track for Businesspeople' (simplified entry procedures) agreed upon between South Korea and the Chinese government.

According to this agreement, businesspeople are exempted from the 'two-week self-quarantine' if they test negative for COVID-19 immediately after returning.

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