Civic Groups: "Lee Jae-yong's Pardon Is Unacceptable... Undermines Principles of Social Justice"

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 the 18th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Civic social organizations have called for the suspension of discussions on the pardon of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

On the 28th, organizations such as People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice issued a joint statement saying, "Discussions on pardoning Vice Chairman Lee are not only inconsistent with the purpose of the pardon system but also risk undermining our judicial system and principles regarding economic crimes, and therefore must be stopped immediately."

They stated, "A pardon for crimes related to the manipulation of state affairs is not a political issue that requires national consensus, nor is it desirable for our economy or the Samsung Group. It is absurd to pardon a serious criminal who caused enormous damage to the Samsung Group and the National Pension Service for personal gain and engaged in illegal lobbying with regime insiders."

They added, "We also clarify that the inheritance tax payment and donation plans related to the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s estate announced today are separate from the pardon discussions and the illegal merger trial of Samsung C&T," emphasizing, "Social restitution measures for the illegal acts committed by Samsung should not be disguised as donations to exert undue influence on pardon discussions or subsequent trials."

Meanwhile, the joint statement also included participation from the Economic Reform Solidarity, Economic Democracy 21, Financial Justice Solidarity, Lawyers for a Democratic Society, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and the Korea YMCA National Council.

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