While in prison, Lee may be unable to make important decisions for Samsung at a crucial time when demand for its memory chips and other products is very high. Korea and Samsung, in particular, have gained more prominence lately because of difficult US / China relations.
At the final hearing of the trial, Lee made a long apology and promised to make a “new Samsung” and “fix what the court pointed out as the chaebol damage. [family-owned conglomerate], “he said. He also vowed not to hand over power to his children.
The sentence was based in part on the court’s assessment of an independent compliance committee created by Samsung to monitor irregularities by executives. Lee’s legal problems are not over yet, as he is also on trial for alleged fraud and manipulation of shares. He is yet to become president of Samsung as soon as he is released, following the death of his father Lee Kun-hee last year.