April 20, 2024
Industrials
Kim Jae-youl grilled over presidential scandal
[THE INVESTOR] Cheil Worldwide President Kim Jae-youl left the special counsel’s office in the early hours of Dec. 30, after a 15-hour questioning in connection with the presidential scandal.
Kim, son-in-law of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, is suspected of having played a part in the tech firm’s donation of about 1.62 billion won (US$1.34 million) to the Korea Winter Sports Elite Center under pressure from Jang Si-ho, and former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong. Jang is a niece of Choi Soon-sil, the key suspect in the scandal, and is accused of being an accomplice to Choi’s crimes.
The special counsel investigators are said to have grilled Kim to determine Samsung Electronics’ motives for supporting Jang’s center. At the parliamentary hearing on Dec. 7, Kim had testified that he was pressured by Kim Chong to support the center.
Kim, however, denied allegations that the money was provided in return for favors from the government.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
Kim, son-in-law of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, is suspected of having played a part in the tech firm’s donation of about 1.62 billion won (US$1.34 million) to the Korea Winter Sports Elite Center under pressure from Jang Si-ho, and former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong. Jang is a niece of Choi Soon-sil, the key suspect in the scandal, and is accused of being an accomplice to Choi’s crimes.
The special counsel investigators are said to have grilled Kim to determine Samsung Electronics’ motives for supporting Jang’s center. At the parliamentary hearing on Dec. 7, Kim had testified that he was pressured by Kim Chong to support the center.
Kim, however, denied allegations that the money was provided in return for favors from the government.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
