A Son Holds Back Tears at the Story of "Seung-eo-bu (Greater Than the Father)"

Jay Y Lee Delivers Final Statement in Courtroom Sketch
Speaks with Uncharacteristically Firm Tone
Voice Breaks When Mentioning Kun-Hee Lee

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y Lee appeared at the Seoul High Court on the 30th for the retrial sentencing hearing of the political scandal case. In his final statement, Vice Chairman Lee mentioned his father, Samsung Chairman Kun-Hee Lee, and showed tears.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Lee Kimin] At 4:59 p.m. on December 30, just two days before the New Year, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y Lee stood in the defendant's seat in courtroom 312 of the Seoul High Court. His final statement was filled with a sense of desperation. Everyone present in the main courtroom, as well as the two overflow courtrooms watching the proceedings, focused intently on Vice Chairman Lee's words and expressions in a solemn atmosphere. While he spoke calmly, at times his tone grew strong and resolute as he promised compliance-based management at Samsung. When he spoke about his late father, Samsung Electronics Chairman Kun-Hee Lee, he struggled to hold back tears.

Standing and facing the bench, he calmly reflected that, during his 20 years at Samsung, he had witnessed the rise and fall of global companies and had always lived with a sense of crisis. Vice Chairman Lee said, "Even though I was fortunate enough to sit with global founders like Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, and Masayoshi Son, Chairman of SoftBank, I always thought that if we let our guard down, we could fail in an instant." He added, "I used to believe that benchmarking advanced companies and working tirelessly on research and development (R&D) to grow the company was everything, but I realized that alone was not enough," he confessed with a sigh, recalling the past.

Vice Chairman Lee also spoke in an unusually firm voice. He stated, "In May 2014, when Chairman Lee collapsed and I was in a state of confusion, there was a one-on-one meeting with President Park Geun-hye," and continued, "If it were now, I would never have handled it that way." His words drew the attention of everyone in the courtroom. He then referenced his one year of imprisonment, four years of trials, and the establishment of Samsung's Compliance Committee, repeatedly appealing his commitment to ethical management through the establishment of a compliance culture at Samsung. He emphasized, "We've taken the first step, but true change begins now. It may feel uncomfortable and require us to take a longer path, but I will not return to the past."

He reiterated, "Once again, I promise that my children will never be mentioned in relation to management succession issues. I will personally ensure that all promises Samsung has made to the public are kept."

Recalling his father's passing, tears welled up in Vice Chairman Lee's eyes, and he looked up to hold back the bitter tears. "Two months ago, Chairman Lee's funeral was held," he said, showing tears. "One of my father's high school friends delivered the eulogy. He said he had never seen a case in industrial history where someone inherited and grew a company like Chairman Lee did, and he described him as 'Seung-eo-bu' (meaning 'greater than the father')." He continued, "The 'Seung-eo-bu' I aspire to must hold an even greater meaning. I will do my utmost to establish a thorough compliance system and ensure a healthy industrial ecosystem." At one point, he struggled to continue, saying, "Recently, as a son who has lost his father, at Samsung..." and paused for a while to compose himself, drinking water to soothe his choking voice. Vice Chairman Lee then said, "I want to build a new Samsung that matches the dignity of our nation and honor my father, whom I respect deeply," once again shedding tears. The senior Samsung executives seated with him in the defendant's section bowed their heads.

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