Overview

• The Supreme Court dismissed prosecutors’ appeal of lower-court acquittals and issued a final, unappealable verdict clearing Lee of all charges
• The 2015 merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T, valued at about $8 billion, faced allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud but was deemed lawful
• Major business lobby groups hailed the ruling as removing a key legal burden and enhancing confidence during growing global tech competition
• People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy criticized the decision as a pro-chaebol ruling that shields corporate power at social justice’s expense
• Freed from legal constraints, Lee is expected to refocus on boosting chip competitiveness, advancing AI leadership, and pursuing new mergers and acquisitions