NYT wrote: Samsung, by far the largest of the chaebol, has long been a symbol of power and wealth in a nation that has transformed itself from an agrarian economy to one of the world’s technological powerhouses. Samsung’s market capitalization accounts for one-fourth of the value of all listed companies in South Korea, and its main unit, Samsung Electronics, alone ships 20 percent of the country’s total exports.

Mr. Lee was accused of giving or promising $38 million in bribes to Choi Soon-sil, a secretive confidante of [South Korean President] Ms. Park. In return, the prosecutor said in his indictment, Mr. Lee received political favors, most notably government support for a merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015 that helped him inherit corporate control from his incapacitated father, Lee Kun-hee.

pdq wrote:
I know we think of Samsung as a consumer products company

…and can admire their technological prowess

they're basically the Korean mob.

For years, Samsung has basically been above the law in South Korea; will this time be any different?

Racer X wrote:
Until the penalties are so high that even trying isn't worth it, people/businesses will do crap like this.

pdq wrote:
I know we think of Samsung as a consumer products company, and can admire their technological prowess, but they're basically the Korean mob.

Article Accelerator wrote:
[quote=Racer X]
Until the penalties are so high that even trying isn't worth it, people/businesses will do crap like this.