Prosecutors Requested Search Warrant for 'Samsung Welstory Unfair Support' but It Was Dismissed

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been reported that the prosecution recently requested a search warrant related to allegations of unfair support by Samsung Group's Samsung Welstory, but the court dismissed the request.

According to the legal community on the 24th, the Fair Trade Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Ko Jin-won) requested a search warrant in connection with the case in which the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) filed charges against former Samsung Group Future Strategy Office head Choi Ji-sung and Samsung Electronics Corporation, but the warrant was dismissed.

In June of last year, the FTC issued corrective orders, stating that Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Samsung SDI unfairly supported Samsung Welstory by concentrating affiliate meal supply volumes. Subsequently, the FTC imposed fines totaling approximately 234.9 billion won on these companies. Samsung Electronics filed an administrative lawsuit, claiming the FTC's disposition was unfair.

The FTC also filed charges with the prosecution against former head Choi and Samsung Electronics Corporation for violating the Fair Trade Act. Separately, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) also filed charges against former head Choi and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jung Hyun-ho on suspicion of breach of duty related to the Welstory unfair support allegations.

Since last year, the prosecution has summoned individuals who worked at Samsung Electronics' Future Strategy Office and has been continuing investigations by receiving related materials from the FTC. However, so far, no forced investigations such as search and seizure have been initiated.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office increased the number of prosecutors in the Fair Trade Investigation Division by two last month and by four this month, and reorganized the investigation team from two teams to three teams. Some speculate that the prosecution is trying to expand investigations into corporate corruption ahead of the new government's inauguration, but the prosecution has denied this.

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