Conglomerate chiefs to be summoned for parliamentary probe into scandal

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 21, 2016, 14:11 Updated : November 21, 2016, 14:11

[Yonhap News Photo]


South Korea's ruling and opposition parties agreed to summon 21 people, including the leaders of Samsung and seven other conglomerates, for a special parliamentary probe into a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her aides.

The parliamentary probe will be conducted in parallel with a special independent counsel investigation into the scandal involving Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, and presidential aides indicted for colluding with President Park to collect illegal corporate donations.

For their probe in parliament, the ruling Saenuri Party and two opposition groups agreed to summon a total of 21 people that included the heads of Samsung, LG, Hyundai Motor, SK, CJ, Hanwha, Lotte, and Hanjin groups.

The list included Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee because his father remained bedridden at a hospital.

The business leaders have already been questioned by prosecutors for their financial contribution to non-profit foundations and firms controlled by Choi, her associates, and relatives.

Corporate donations, voluntary or not, have long been a controversial issue in South Korea due to concern about collusive ties between businessmen and politicians.

Choi and two former presidential aides were indicted Sunday on multiple charges including abuse of authority. But prosecutors cleared the business groups of bribery charges, saying they had donated money against their will to avoid retaliation and disadvantage.

Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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