"Samsung Headquarters Overseas" Lee Jae-yong's 'Prison Interview Statement' Spreads... Samsung Says "Fake"

Lee Jae-yong's 'Special Statement from Prison' Spreads Widely Online
Samsung Says "The Circulated Post Is Not True"

Amid the spread of a 'fake prison letter' purportedly sent by Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who has been re-incarcerated, Samsung Electronics stated, "This is not true."

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Samsung Electronics recently stated on the 21st that the 'prison interview letter' of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong circulating online is "not true."

The day before, an 'exclusive prison interview letter' starting with "This is Lee Jae-yong" spread on internet communities and social networking services (SNS).

The letter included statements such as "I apologize to the people who love Samsung. I have no words to say for my failure to act properly," "I did not receive a direct request from President Park Geun-hye," and "I thought that buying horses for Jung Yoo-ra to use or supporting funds for the Gifted Center were things a businessperson could reasonably do."

In particular, it contained expressions of grievance such as "If these were decisions made voluntarily, it would be right to take responsibility, but honestly, I do not understand taking responsibility for all these matters."

Additionally, there were absurd claims like "Is 8 billion won a lot of money for Samsung?", "I will move the group's headquarters to a third country," and "Everland will open admission free of charge for children."

Regarding this, Samsung Electronics stated, "The circulated post is completely false," and explained, "Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is in a situation where even visitation is difficult due to the COVID-19 situation."

Meanwhile, on the 18th, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison and detained in court in the retrial of the 'National Pension Scandal' case, conveyed through his lawyer on the same day, "I will continue to support the activities of the Compliance Committee. I ask the chairman and members to continue fulfilling their original roles." This is the first prison message from Lee Jae-yong since his detention.