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Chiefs of S.Korean conglomerates attend parliamentary hearing for presidential scandal

Xinhua, December 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chiefs of South Korea's major conglomerates on Tuesday attended a parliamentary hearing for a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo entered the National Assembly building, where scores of journalists surrounded them, local TV footage showed.

Also attending the hearing were Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won as well as heads of CJ, LG, Hanwha and Hanjin.

They are expected to be questioned over donating tens of millions of U.S. dollars to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi Soon-sil, President Park's decades-long friend who has been indicted on multiple counts including abuse of power and extortion.

It is rare here to see the country's chaebol heads appear and be interrogated in the unicameral assembly. It will be broadcast live and is expected to last until late at night. It kicked off at about 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT).

The latest parliamentary hearing of chaebol chief over corruption involving the country's chief executive happened in late 1988.

At the time, opposition lawmakers having a majority seat quizzed Chung Ju-yung, the founder of all Hyundai groups, over the corruption scandal involving former military strongman Chun Doo-hwan who ruled the country until early 1988. Enditem