Foreign Media Urgently Reports 'Lee Jae-yong Not Guilty'... "Judicial Risk Resolved"

Major Foreign Media Report 'Lee Jae-yong's Victory' Simultaneously
Encouraging for Samsung Electronics Facing Economic Recession and Competitor Challenges
Mentions Concerns Over Market Fairness and Judiciary Credibility

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong was acquitted on the 5th in the trial over allegations of 'illegal succession of management rights,' and foreign media urgently reported the news.

Foreign media such as the Associated Press (AP) quickly covered the news of Chairman Lee Jae-yong's acquittal in the 'illegal succession of management rights' trial, forecasting that "resolving judicial risks will help strengthen Samsung Electronics' competitiveness."

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is leaving the courtroom after being acquitted in the first trial related to accounting fraud and unfair merger at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The AP reported, "This ruling resolves legal issues surrounding the Samsung heir who was convicted on separate bribery charges in a corruption scandal that toppled the previous government."

CNN described the trial result as a 'surprise verdict,' stating, "It is uncertain whether the prosecution will appeal this ruling, which experts perceive as an unexpected surprise."

It also reported remarks from Professor Park Sang-in of Seoul National University's Department of Economics, saying, "This ruling is a completely shocking outcome, and this decision will undermine foreign investors' trust in the Korean legal system and the soundness of Korea's capital market."

Bloomberg News evaluated, "This ruling is encouraging news for Samsung Electronics, which is struggling to find an escape from the global smartphone and memory chip downturn."

Bloomberg further interpreted, "Chairman Lee has achieved a significant victory, finally removing the threat of imprisonment that has plagued this billionaire for over 10 years. The acquittal alleviates the burden on the world's largest memory chip and display manufacturer, which is struggling amid the global economic downturn and fierce challenges from Apple in smartphones and SK Hynix in artificial intelligence."

AFP reported an analysis by Professor Kim Dae-jong of Sejong University's Department of Business Administration, stating, "The acquittal of Chairman Lee will help Samsung Electronics, which supplies about 60% of the world's memory chips, to establish long-term investment plans."

Reuters reported, "The largest conglomerates in Korea are still owned and operated by founding families, and the public has long struggled between anger over scandals involving these families and the perception that they bear much responsibility for the country's economic success."

The US daily The New York Times (NYT) reported, "(In Korea) most chaebol scandals stem from attempts by founding families to pass management rights to the next generation," adding, "Korean economic experts were surprised by this ruling and said it raises concerns about the fairness of the Korean market and the credibility of the judiciary."

It also included an interview with Professor Jeon Sung-in of Hongik University's Department of Economics, who said, "This case showed how powerless Korea's political and judicial authorities are in the face of chaebols."

Earlier, Chairman Lee was indicted on charges of involvement in various illicit transactions, market manipulation, and accounting fraud orchestrated by the company's Future Strategy Office to stably succeed management rights at minimal cost and strengthen control during the 2015 merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T. The Seoul Central District Court acquitted him in the first trial after 3 years and 5 months.

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