Lee Jae-yong acquitted of fraud charges by Seoul High Court

13 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 29

The Seoul High Court in July 2025 upheld the acquittal of Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong over alleged fraud tied to the Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries merger.
This decision ends a decade of legal battles, including criminal charges and imprisonment, that followed the 2016 corruption scandal involving Lee and former President Park Geun-hye.
Lee, grandson of Samsung's founder, has pledged not to pass managerial rights to his children, signaling a shift in succession practices for South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate.

How did Lee use an $8 billion tax bill to actually strengthen his control over Samsung?

As the Lee family's wealth soars, can Samsung avert a massive 18-day union strike this May?

Does Lee Jae-yong's acquittal prove justice was served, or that chaebol influence remains supreme?

After a decade-long battle to secure control, will Lee Jae-yong truly end his family's dynasty?

How will Lee's 'New Samsung' strategy challenge TSMC's dominance in the global AI chip race?

Is Samsung's pivot to biopharmaceuticals a genuine growth engine or a high-risk corporate gamble?