Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/tech_news/Samsung_CEO_resigns_supporters_riot’; Think you’re a fanboy? Supporters of the Samsung Group gathered for a rally during a press conference held by Kim Yong-chul, a lawyer calling for punishments to be handed out to disgraced company CEO Lee Kun-hee. During the proceedings, supporters burned pictures of Kim and generally made Apple and Microsoft fanatics look like choir boys on especially good behavior. Now that’s dedication.

[Thanks, Dooder; Image courtesy AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

After years of whispers which ultimately turned to shouts of corruption, Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung and son of Samsung’s founder, has resigned following an indictment on tax evasion charges. Lee said, “We, including myself, have caused troubles to the nation with the special probe. I deeply apologize for that, and I’ll take full responsibility for everything, both legally and morally.” Lee Jae-yong, the Chairman’s son and heir to the Samsung throne also resigned as did Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo, Lee’s closest advisor. Lee Soo-bin, chairman of Samsung Life Insurance, takes on representation for Samsung Group although the group chairman position remains unfilled. So it’s over. Now lick your wounds Sammy and get back to your hyperbolic announcements of world’s first, fastest, biggest, etc… we miss you.

[Thanks, Dave L.]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Not a lot of people in the US know the name Lee Kun-hee, but he’s the chairman and son of the founder of the world’s largest gadget company: Samsung. And he’s also at the epicenter of one of the craziest corruption scandals the industry has seen in years. Kun-hee and his cronies have already been subject to government probes, and the disgraced chairman has already basically admitted his guilt and responsibility for Samsung’s bribery wrongdoings, but now he’s made the next ever so gingerly step towards the exit by stating, “I will deeply think about reshuffling the corporate management structure and the management lineup, including myself.” Sure, think it over, take all the time you need — just don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, man.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Lee Kun-hee, Samsung’s 66 year old chairman and son of the company’s founder, made a potentially damning announcement over the weekend. Following 11 hours of interrogation by prosecutors into allegations of bribery and maintaining a slush fund (among other improprieties), Lee said, “This is all due to my carelessness. I am responsible for everything and must take responsibility.” We won’t know for sure until the investigation is complete. However, the statement is less likely an admission of guilt than it is an attempt to appease the people of South Korea where the Samsung “chaebol” is more than just a brand, it’s a national symbol of pride… at least it was.

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Oh noes. An independent investigation launched last week into an alleged multi-million-dollar slush fund has raided the homes of Samsung chairman, Lee Kun-Hee, and six other Samsung execs. The chairman and the executives are already banned from leaving the country. The investigation saw some 50 investigators seize documents and a laptop from Lee’s Seoul villa after a search lasting several hours. Samsung, for its part, has denied the long whispered bribery claims, made formal by its former chief lawyer last year.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It’s no secret that Samsung and scandal have gone hand-in-hand in the past, but apparently, the latest one has been of particular significance in the firm’s homeland. The most recent incident involves Kim Yong-chul, a former top Samsung lawyer, who went public this month with claims that Chairman Lee Kun-hee and other officials “masterminded a campaign to raise slush funds to pay prosecutors, judges and lawmakers and influence a high-profile court case.” In response, independent prosecutors were called in to investigate the allegations of “bribery and policy manipulation,” and not surprisingly, Samsung has reportedly fired back calling the proclamations “groundless and false.” It should be noted that no “substantiating evidence” has been provided thus far, but analysts are already suggesting that these assertions, if proven legitimate, could even play a role in the nation’s upcoming presidential election.

[Via BusinessWeek, image courtesy of Forbes]

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