Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong beats fraud case; Supreme Court seals acquittal

South Korea’s Top Court Upholds Acquittal of Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong in Long-Running Merger Case
By MediaBites | July 18, 2025

WebDesk: In a landmark decision, South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on financial criminal charges related to the controversial 2015 merger between Samsung affiliates. This ruling concludes nearly a decade-long legal battle that had clouded the leadership of the global tech giant.

The case, which began in 2016, accused Lee of stock manipulation and accounting fraud to facilitate the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, effectively strengthening his control over the Samsung empire. Prosecutors had argued that the merger unfairly favored Lee and his family, consolidating their grip on the conglomerate’s sprawling operations.

However, the Supreme Court reaffirmed lower court decisions, concluding that Lee did not engage in illegal activities during the merger process. This final ruling removes significant legal uncertainty around Samsung’s leadership.

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Impact on the Samsung Empire

Despite the protracted legal proceedings, the Samsung empire remained resilient, maintaining its position as a global leader in smartphones, semiconductors, and electronics. While Lee faced multiple court appearances and temporary detentions, Samsung’s business operations and global expansions continued largely unaffected.

The verdict provides much-needed stability to the company’s governance structure, ensuring that Lee can now focus fully on steering Samsung through global economic challenges and advancing its technology leadership.