Chairman Yang Chang-su's Intention to Recuse: "I Will Step Down from the Lee Jae-yong Investigation Review Committee"

Yang Chang-su, Chairman of the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee

[Asia Economy reporters Kim Hyung-min and Cho Sung-pil] On the day after it was decided that the Prosecutors' Investigation Review Committee, which reviews the appropriateness of the prosecution's investigation and indictment of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (52) and others regarding the merger allegations of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, will be held on the 26th, the committee chairman, former Supreme Court Justice Yang Chang-soo (68), made a sudden announcement that he would withdraw from the committee.

Former Justice Yang issued a statement on the 16th saying, "I intend to refrain from performing my duties as chairman at the committee's current affairs meeting scheduled for the 28th."

He explained the reason for his withdrawal, stating, "I have a long-standing friendship with Choi Ji-sung (former head of Samsung Future Strategy Office), who is a suspect in the case discussed by this committee. Such a personal relationship constitutes grounds for recusal."

He added, "Other circumstances raised by the media, whether individually or collectively, are objectively unrelated to the content of the case handled by this committee and therefore do not constitute grounds for recusal."

Former Justice Yang also said, "When I heard on the afternoon of the 12th that the Prosecutor General had convened the committee regarding this case, I thought I needed to consider whether to recuse myself. Before making that decision, it was necessary to clearly understand the specific details of the case referred to the committee, especially Choi Ji-sung's position in the charges. After the weekend, it was only on the 15th that it became realistically possible to make the decision to recuse."

He continued, "Throughout the day, I first confirmed with the prosecutors in charge of the committee at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office whether it was permissible to publicly announce my intention to recuse before the committee convenes, and discussed specific matters necessary for the smooth progress of the committee after the chairman's recusal, which is an unprecedented situation. I also carefully reviewed the relevant regulations. On the 28th, I will attend the committee, formally express my intention to recuse to the members following the prescribed procedures, explain the related procedures regarding the appointment of a deputy chairman and future progress, and then withdraw from the committee."

Former Justice Yang had faced criticism that it was inappropriate for him to handle the review case involving Vice Chairman Lee and former Samsung Future Strategy Office head Choi Ji-sung (69), due to revealed familial and academic ties with Samsung.

Yang's brother-in-law is Kwon Oh-jung, director of Samsung Seoul Hospital (63), and his younger sister, Yang Mo (56), previously worked as an obstetrics and gynecology professor at Samsung Seoul Hospital. Former head Choi Ji-sung is a classmate of Yang from Seoul High School, class of 22.

Additionally, while serving as a Supreme Court Justice on May 29, 2009, Yang expressed a dissenting opinion of not guilty in the Supreme Court plenary session ruling on the 'Everland convertible bonds (CB) low-price issuance case.' In that ruling, among the 11 justices of the plenary session, six voted not guilty and five guilty. Accordingly, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee (78), who was indicted on breach of trust charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, was acquitted.

Last month, Chairman Yang also referenced this ruling in a column he contributed to Maeil Business Newspaper, arguing that Vice Chairman Lee was not responsible for the succession of management rights.

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