December 23, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office questioned Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong well into the midnight hours on Nov. 13 over the alleged involvement of the conglomerate in the recent presidential scandal rocking the nation.

The Samsung heir was summoned as a witness for questioning in the afternoon on the day in which the prosecution asked about his behind-the-doors meeting with President Park Geun-hye in late July in 2015.

The questioning reportedly ended at 2 a.m. on Nov. 14. 

Tycoons of Korea’s largest conglomerates, including Lee, had private meetings with President Park before her close confidante Choi Soon-sil and others launched the dubious Mir Foundation and K-Sports Foundation.

The business moguls are said to have decided -- reportedly following pressure from the president and her aides -- to offer combined funds of 80 billion won (US$68.60 million) to support the two foundations, which were established to support culture and sports sectors in Korea.

Utilizing her close relationship with the president, Choi had allegedly exerted her influence to help her aides -- including a masseur -- to take the top post of the foundations.

Samsung is suspected of providing 20.6 billion won for the two foundations and 3.5 billion won to another, dubbed Widec Sports, formerly known as Core Sports, a German paper company run by Choi.

Most of the funds were reportedly used to buy horses, equipment and equestrian fields for Choi’s daughter Chung Yu-ra, a former national equestrian athlete.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)