Will Lee Jae-yong's Employment Restriction Burden Disappear?..."Deputy Prime Minister Requests Convenience from Ministry of Justice"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jihwan] Interest is focused on whether Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, who reportedly requested the Ministry of Justice to ease the employment restriction issue concerning Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, will allow Lee to have more freedom in his management activities.

On the 11th, Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, said to reporters after attending the 'Meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Heads of Economic Organizations' regarding Lee Jae-yong's employment restriction issue, "(Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki) is also taking care of it."

When asked specifically what Deputy Prime Minister Hong said, Chairman Sohn replied, "He said to the Minister of Justice to handle it smoothly without inconvenience," and added, "The Deputy Prime Minister is personally continuing to oversee it." Chairman Sohn also said, "Originally, we requested a pardon, but we express our gratitude for the parole decision."

Lee was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in February this year for the state affairs manipulation case, and has been notified by the Ministry of Justice of an employment restriction. Even after parole, he cannot be employed by Samsung Electronics for five years.

Currently, the Ministry of Justice has allowed Lee's parole but has not granted separate approval to lift the employment restriction. On the 9th of this month, the Ministry of Justice stated in the parole decision for Lee that "consideration was given to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic's national economic situation and the global economic environment."

The Ministry of Justice maintains that it has not yet reviewed Lee's employment restriction issue. However, considering the background of the parole disclosed by the Ministry of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister Hong's request, there is an analysis that Lee's scope of activity in management may expand.

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