Samsung Chairman Acquitted in Fraud Case

South Korea’s Supreme Court has officially cleared Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee of all charges related to accounting fraud and stock manipulation in connection with an $8 billion merger that took place in 2015.

The ruling, issued on Thursday, upholds the verdicts of two lower courts and brings a long-running legal saga to a definitive close.

The case revolved around the merger of two Samsung affiliates, Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, which prosecutors claimed was orchestrated to strengthen Lee’s control over the tech conglomerate.

However, both the appeals court and a district court previously found Lee not guilty, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

This final acquittal removes a significant legal burden from the chairman as Samsung intensifies its global push into next-generation technologies, including advanced AI chips and semiconductor innovation.

Samsung’s shares remained largely unaffected by the court’s decision, with Samsung Electronics stock rising by 1.7% following the announcement.

The Korea Enterprises Federation welcomed the ruling, stating it eliminates a major legal risk that has loomed over Samsung during a critical period for the tech sector.

With global competition accelerating in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure, the federation expressed optimism that Lee’s continued leadership will allow Samsung to increase investment, drive innovation, and support South Korea’s economic recovery.