Cheong says no review plan... "What do you think about pardoning Lee Jae-yong?"

Five Major Economic Organizations Submit 'Lee Jae-yong Pardon Petition' to Cheong Wa Dae
"Corporate Leaders' Role More Needed Than Ever for Bold Business Decisions"
Cheong Wa Dae: "No Plans to Consider Lee Jae-yong Pardon at This Time"

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is attending the retrial sentencing hearing of the state affairs manipulation case held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on January 18. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Voices from the business community urging a pardon for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong continue to grow. Not only economic organizations but also religious groups and other organizations are requesting a pardon for Vice Chairman Lee. The Ministry of Justice and the Blue House have drawn a line, stating that they have not reviewed the pardon proposal for Vice Chairman Lee.

The Korea Employers Federation (KEF), the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and three other major economic organizations officially requested a pardon for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong from the Blue House. On the previous day (the 17th), KEF announced that it had submitted a petition for Vice Chairman Lee’s pardon to the relevant department at the Blue House.

In the petition, these organizations emphasized, "As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates digitalization, the importance of semiconductors, a core component, is increasing even more," and added, "Our country's semiconductor industry is also facing new crises and challenging situations." They further expressed concern, stating, "If bold investments and decisive actions are delayed due to the absence of the head of management who should lead the company amid fierce competition in the semiconductor industry, the world No. 1 position that has been built up could be lost overnight."

This is not the first time the business community has called for a pardon. Earlier, on the 16th, business leaders including KEF Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik had already made a request for Vice Chairman Lee’s pardon to Hong Nam-ki, Acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy. In addition to economic organizations, religious groups and other organizations are also requesting a pardon for Vice Chairman Lee.

Samsung Electronics [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, Oh Kyu-seok, Mayor of Gijang County, Busan, appealed for Vice Chairman Lee’s pardon in a letter to President Moon Jae-in, and on the 21st, the head monks of 25 main temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism submitted a petition to the government asking for leniency for Vice Chairman Lee. Furthermore, the central Confucian institution, Sungkyunkwan, urged a pardon, stating, "Granting the last opportunity to serve the nation and its people and encouraging him to take the lead in resolving current difficulties could be one way for Vice Chairman Lee to be forgiven for past mistakes."

Public reactions are divided. While the reasons for urging a pardon are understood, there are criticisms that everyone should be equal before the law, along with counterarguments that exceptions might be possible during the COVID-19 emergency situation.

Kim, a company employee in his 40s, said, "Samsung maintains the No. 1 position in the semiconductor business not only in our country but worldwide. Although it is called the Samsung system, I think the presence of the head of management is also important. Haven't there been cases of pardoning heads of companies in the past?" He added, "Given the uncertain economic situation due to COVID-19, I believe Samsung’s existence is more important than ever."

On the other hand, Lee, a worker in his 30s, expressed a negative opinion, saying, "There may be pros and cons to pardoning Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, but everyone, whether a chaebol chairman or anyone else, should receive the same punishment before the law. Otherwise, common sense might be shaken."

As calls for a pardon for Vice Chairman Lee continue, pardons for business leaders have been granted several times in the past. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, pardons were granted to Park Yong-sung, chairman of Doosan Group, and Kim Woo-joong, chairman of Daewoo Group. During the Lee Myung-bak administration, in 2008, Chung Mong-koo, honorary chairman (then chairman) of Hyundai Motor Group, and Kim Seung-yeon, chairman of Hanwha Group, were released through special pardons.

In 2009, ahead of the bid for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee was granted a sole pardon on the grounds that an IOC member of Korean nationality was needed. During the Park Geun-hye administration, special pardons were granted to Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, and Lee Jae-hyun, chairman of CJ Group.

Meanwhile, the Blue House is reportedly not planning to review the pardon request for Vice Chairman Lee. A senior Blue House official told reporters at the Chuncheon Press Center on the afternoon of the 27th, "There has been no review of the pardon so far, and there are no plans to review it at this time."

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