[Courtesy of Joint Press Corp.]
It must have been his most difficult and embarrassing job in his life, but the virtual head of South Korea's largest conglomerate, Samsung Group, appears to have thwarted a barrage of scathing questions in his own style.
There was no mercy, as anticipated, when Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee took the witness stand for a special parliamentary investigation into a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-hye.
At first, the 48-year-old only son of bedridden Samsung Group patriarch Lee Kun-hee looked shaken visibly, murmuring or speaking out of tempo under a barrage of questions from lawmakers. The Samsung prince gazed down at his feet with a frown from time to time, his lips clenched tight.
Although Lee fidgeted with anxiety, he cleverly evaded sensitive questions with incoherent answers which brought even more angry response from the lawmakers asking for clearer answers.
As the session wore on, Lee restored confidence and tried to show a soft but honest impression in answering questions until the focus shifted to his relationship with Park and her crony, Choi Soon-sil.
Lee seemed lost when he was asked about his ties with Choi saying "I really cannot recall the moment when I was noticed with Choi's existence for the first time." Over more questions about her, he said, "I am so sorry, but I really cannot remember when I first heard about Choi."
When asked about the transmission of Samsung's corporate funds to dubious business entities controlled by Choi, Lee admitted without hesitance that Samsung made a mistake by getting involved in a "shameful" scandal. Then he apologized for Samsung's "rash" act and promised not to make a similar mistake.
"It's very embarrassing and regrettable to get involved in a shameful thing," Lee said. "From now, I will make sincere efforts to build a good corporate image without succumbing to any pressure or coercion."
The parliamentary hearing, which drew widespread public attention, came on the heels of huge weekly anti-government demonstrations calling for Park's ouster and arrest. It's the first time South Korea's top business tycoons have been grilled together in public.
No business leaders have been charged, but the scandal fanned public resentment over their alleged relationship with Park.
At the center of questioning is Samsung which allegedly donated the biggest amount of money estimated at 30 billion won (25.6 million US dollars) to foundations and firms controlled by Choi, her relatives, and associates. The group is also suspected of bankrolling an equestrian training program for Choi's daughter in Germany.
Choi, indicted on charges of coercion and abuse of power, is accused of collecting some 70 million US dollars for her dubious non-profit foundations. Lee denied his personal involvement in the scandal saying Samsung did not want "anything in return for cash donations or support".
Lee admitted that Samsung provided Choi's daughter, a professional equestrian, with a horse valued at one billion won.
About his private meetings with Park in July last year and February this year, Lee recalled that the president did not mention any cash donations but asked for Samsung's support to the development of culture and sports. "If there is anything I should take responsibility for, I will do so," Lee said.
Aju News Park Sae-jin and Lim Chang-won
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
