April 23, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will appear at a parliamentary hearing on Dec. 6 to be grilled over the alleged connection between South Korea’s largest conglomerate and Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-he’s close friend who is at the center of the latest influence-peddling scandal.

It is the second time for Lee, the heir apparent, to stand before the public after he offered an apology earlier last year for the mishandling of the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak by a general hospital affiliated with Samsung Group. 

Industry sources said the vice chairman and executives of the Future Strategy Office, Samsung’s control tower, have been working around the clock to prepare for the hearing over the weekend.

Samsung’s legal team chief and an in-house attorney are expected to accompany him during the hearing.

Together with the youngest Lee, a total of nine business tycoons, including LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, CJ Group Chairman Son Kyeong-sik and Hanhwa Group Chairman Kim Seong-yeon, will be present at the hearing.

They will be questioned whether their combined 70 billion won (US$60 million) donations to bogus organizations controlled by Choi and her associates had been offered in return for any business favors.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)