Lee Jae-yong, First Court Appearance Without Detention After Parole Release... Requests Personal Protection

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was released on parole after 207 days of re-imprisonment, is leaving Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province on the 13th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Uiwang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who was released on parole on August 15 Liberation Day, will attend the trial for the 'Samsung merger and accounting fraud' charges for the first time since his release.

According to the court on the 19th, at 10 a.m., the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judge Park Jeongje) will hold a hearing for Lee, who is indicted on charges including violation of the Capital Markets Act.

Previously, Lee was prosecuted on charges of directing unfair practices such as artificially inflating the stock price of Cheil Industries and lowering the stock price of Samsung C&T during the merger process of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries.

At the trial, Choi, an employee of Samsung’s Future Strategy Office at the time of the Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries merger review, is expected to appear as a witness.

Lee’s legal team requested personal protection for Lee from the court on the 17th. If the court determines that a criminal defendant is at risk of attack, court staff accompany the defendant from the time they enter the court premises until they enter the courtroom to ensure their safety.

Meanwhile, Lee was released from Seoul Detention Center on the morning of the 13th after the Ministry of Justice decided on parole. It was 207 days since he was re-arrested after being sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison at the retrial of the state corruption case held at the Seoul High Court on January 18.

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