Lee Jae-yong's 'Sabu-gok'... Tearful Mention of Lee Kun-hee in Final Statement (Comprehensive)

"Will Build a Company with the Highest Level of Transparency"
"Will Never Repeat Mistakes Again"
"Want to Be Filial to My Respected Father"
Special Prosecutor: "Core Case of State Affairs Manipulation"... Sentencing Request of 9 Years Imprisonment
Court Scheduled to Hold Verdict Hearing on January 18 Next Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Cho, Gimin Lee] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong appealed for leniency in his final statement during the retrial of the 'state affairs manipulation' case on the 30th, revealing a grand plan for Samsung that differs from his predecessors.

At the sentencing hearing held by the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Jung Jun-young), Lee said, "I promise to build a company with the highest level of transparency and morality." He added, "I will support the Samsung Compliance Committee to fully perform its original role," and "I vow and vow again never to repeat the mistakes." He also stated, "In May, I accepted the Compliance Committee's recommendations and expressed my conviction regarding the succession of management rights," and emphasized, "I reiterate that my children will never be mentioned in connection with the issue of management succession."

Lee became emotional while mentioning the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. He said, "I want to show filial piety to my father, whom I respect deeply," and "Everything is my responsibility, and if there is any wrongdoing, please hold me accountable." He also added, "The seniors sitting with me in the defendant's seat have devoted their lives to the company," and earnestly requested, "Please do not reprimand them too harshly."

Lee's defense attorney argued in the final plea that "the Samsung compliance monitoring system has been significantly strengthened after this case and should be considered in sentencing." Attorney Lee Kyung-hwan said, "Although the compliance monitoring system is not perfect, Samsung has undergone many changes through this system, and the sincerity and sustainability have been confirmed through expert psychological evaluators," adding, "Considering the impact of the compliance monitoring system's changes on other companies in Korea, this should be an important factor in the defendant's sentencing."

In response, the special prosecution team led by Park Young-soo requested a 9-year prison sentence for Lee. They also requested the confiscation of the horse 'Rousing,' which was provided as a bribe to Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil) using Samsung Electronics funds. The prosecution sought 7-year prison sentences for former Future Strategy Office President Jang Choong-ki, former Samsung Electronics Future Strategy Office Chief Choi Ji-sung, and former Samsung Electronics President Park Sang-jin, who were indicted on the same charges as Lee, and a 5-year sentence for former Samsung Electronics Executive Director Hwang Sung-soo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution explained the reason for the sentencing request, stating, "This case is at the core of the state affairs manipulation scandal," and "The main perpetrators, including former President Park Geun-hye and Choi Seo-won, have all been sentenced to heavy penalties, underscoring the urgent need for the principles of rule of law and equality." They pointed out, "There is a saying that Korean companies are divided into Samsung and non-Samsung, reflecting the overwhelming power of the group," and emphasized, "For the healthy development of our society, Samsung must show a firm stance against corruption and set an example." The prosecution further stated, "During the state affairs manipulation crime, Samsung was more active and committed crimes more easily than other companies with less influence or power, and showed attempts to evade responsibility."

However, the prosecution lowered the requested sentence compared to the first and second trials, where they had requested 12 years in prison. They explained, "This takes into account the Supreme Court's confirmation of acquittal on some charges."

The retrial sentencing for Lee is scheduled for the afternoon of January 18 next year. Previously, the court expressed its intention to reflect the effectiveness of the Samsung Compliance Committee in Lee's sentencing. However, the court emphasized, "While we will carefully consider the effectiveness and sustainability of the Compliance Committee, this is not the sole or most important factor in sentencing."

Lee was prosecuted on charges of bribing former President Park Geun-hye and Choi Seo-won in exchange for assistance with the group's management succession. The first trial found some of Lee's charges guilty and sentenced him to five years in prison, while the appellate court acquitted a significant portion of the amount deemed guilty in the first trial and sentenced him to two years and six months in prison with a four-year probation. In August last year, the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court's acquittal on some amounts and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court.

The retrial, which began with the first hearing in October last year, was suspended for a while after the prosecution filed a motion to disqualify the presiding judges in January this year. The prosecution opposed the court's intention to reflect the Compliance Committee's effectiveness in Lee's sentencing, claiming the court was directing the trial with preconceived notions. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the prosecution's disqualification motion in September, and the retrial resumed in October.

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