Park Beom-gye: "Lee Jae-yong is an unpaid, non-executive, non-registered director, so it's hard to consider it employment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye commented on the business activities of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was released on parole, saying, "Isn't it difficult to consider this as employment?"

On the 19th, as Minister Park arrived at the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Office, he responded to reporters' questions about whether Vice Chairman Lee violated employment restrictions by stating this based on "limited information."

Minister Park explained, "Vice Chairman Lee has been unpaid for several years and is a non-executive, unregistered director," adding, "A joint-stock company makes final decisions through the board of directors and the general shareholders' meeting, but since Vice Chairman Lee is an unregistered director, he cannot participate in the board's decision-making."

He continued, "Considering these factors, it is difficult to view this as employment," but added, "However, ultimately, since I have limited information, I cannot answer with a simple 'O (yes)' or 'X (no).'"

Minister Park also cited past cases, such as SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who faced employment restriction controversies but maintained his chairmanship due to being an unpaid unregistered director, and a previous example where the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission emphasized the 'unpaid' status when judging the reemployment of public officials dismissed for misconduct.

There are differing opinions on whether Vice Chairman Lee's business activities violate employment restrictions. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice issued a statement the day before, saying, "The argument that it is not a legal violation because he is unpaid and an unregistered director is not valid," and announced plans to file a complaint against Vice Chairman Lee for violating employment restriction regulations.

Minister Park said, "I believe such criticism can come from some quarters," and added, "However, as those responsible for enforcing the law, this is our standard in interpreting the law."

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