South Korean-based Samsung Group's public criticism has surged as reports of graft continue to surface. These reports center on Samsung's leaderships involvement in yet another round of political bribery and influence-buying of government officials...this time in 1997!
Government prosecutors will summon Lee Hak-soo, vice chairman of Samsung Group's corporate restructuring office. Lee is known as chairman Lee Kun-hee's right hand man.
This latest round of controversy was triggered by a report on conversations between Lee Hak-soo and Hong Seok-hyun, former publisher of the JoongAng Ilbo. The controversial conversationss were taped by Korean secret agents.
The two allegedly discussed ways of funding a conservative candidate in the 1997 presidential elections. After the recent revelation, Hong, a brother-in-law of the Samsung chairman, recently resigned from his post as U.S. ambassador.
What stands out is not that Korean big business has been accused of but another instance of graft. In Samsung's case it is that the Lee family which heads Samsung has relatives in key government positions...
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