Justice Party Decides Not to Condole Chairman Lee Kun-hee... "Samsung, a Wrong History of Collusion Between Politics and Business"

Kim Jong-cheol, leader of the Justice Party, is attending the leadership meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] On the 26th, Kim Jong-cheol, leader of the Justice Party, commented on the passing of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, stating, "Samsung's history is one that has led the development of our industry, but it is also a history of wrongful collusion between politics and business."

At the party leadership meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Kim expressed his condolences by saying, "I pray for the deceased's soul and offer my sympathies to the bereaved family," before making this remark.

He continued, "The tragedy that must not be forgotten and the grave built with someone's tears of blood is the very history upon which today's Samsung was established," adding, "Our late lawmaker Roh Hoe-chan also suffered the loss of his parliamentary seat. The inheritance of the Samsung family's wealth and the irregularities and illegalities involved in that process must still be held accountable precisely."

He further stated, "We must clear away the history of suppressing labor union rights and concealing workers' working environment issues," and said, "The deaths of semiconductor factory workers such as the late Hwang Yu-mi, the late Choi Jong-beom, the late Yeom Ho-seok, who were sacrificed under the illegal no-union management principle, and the grievances of small and medium-sized enterprises that were forced to surrender their technology and endure extortion must not be forgotten."

Kim said, "All deaths are sorrowful, but this is why we cannot simply mourn endlessly," and added, "The death of Chairman Lee should not end merely as a condolence for the deceased, but should become an opportunity for a better society. The Justice Party will work together with the people toward this goal."

Meanwhile, the Justice Party leadership decided not to pay respects at Chairman Lee's funeral. Regarding this, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "The Justice Party, which once suggested paying respects to Kim Jong-il, now refuses to do so for Chairman Lee Kun-hee," and said, "They judge that the life of an economic leader who transformed the country from one of the poorest to a prosperous nation by creating the world's top company is less valuable than Kim Jong-il, who made the country the poorest in the world."