[Yonhap News Photo]
The de facto head of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung Group, testified in court that he was reprimanded by jailed ex-president Park Geun-hye for dragging his feet in providing financial support for equestrian training.
But Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee dismissed an illicit money-for-favor exchange with Park or her crony, Choi Soon-sil, who has been at the center of a corruption scandal that sparked street demonstrations and led to Park's fall.
"I was embarrassed because it was an exclusive presidential meeting and I got a reprimand from a lady for the first time," Lee told a court hearing, recalling his father was the only person who has scolded him.
A the time, he said he did realize Park's reprimand was related to equestrian training for Choi's daughter. "I didn't think so," he said, adding Park had never mentioned Samsung's leadership succession. Prosecutors have accused him of pledging some 43.3 billion won (38.5 million US dollars) in kickbacks and bankrolling the equestrian training of Choi's daughter in Germany.
Lee admitted he asked Samsung to fund a national equestrian federation but insisted he was not directly involved in the transmission of money diverted to Choi's daughter after all. From the first hearing, he argued that no strings have been attached to Samsung's cash donation to entities controlled by Choi.
The scandal fanned public sentiment against corporate donations, which have long been a controversial issue in South Korea due to concern about collusive ties between businessmen and politicians. Park has been arrested on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets.
Top officials of the family-run conglomerates or "chaebol" have made regular court appearances on various charges. Some have received heavy jail terms, only for them to be pardoned or released on early parole.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
