Prosecutors Conduct Second Day of Search at Samsung Electronics Headquarters and Wellstory over Alleged Unfair Support

Extension of Previous Day's Search Including 'Server Seizure'... Related Materials Being Secured

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution is conducting a second day of raids on Samsung Electronics headquarters and Samsung Welstory in connection with allegations of unfair support for Samsung Welstory.

According to the legal community on the 29th, the Fair Trade Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Ko Jin-won) sent prosecutors and investigators to Samsung Electronics headquarters in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, and Samsung Welstory headquarters in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, to secure materials related to affiliate meal supply.

Typically, server raids take a long time, so the prosecution explained that this is a continuation of the previous day's raid. The prosecution also conducted an 11-hour raid targeting Samsung Welstory's finance and accounting departments the day before.

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

The Fair Trade Commission also reported former Samsung Group Future Strategy Office chief Choi Ji-sung and Samsung Electronics corporation to the prosecution for violating the Fair Trade Act. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice also filed charges against former chief Choi and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jung Hyun-ho for breach of duty related to the Welstory unfair support allegations.

The prosecution has been summoning individuals who worked at Samsung Electronics' Future Strategy Office since last year and has been investigating by receiving related materials from the Fair Trade Commission. Previously, the prosecution requested a search warrant related to this case, which was once dismissed, but they reapplied and proceeded with the raid.

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