Photo: Republic of Korea · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Born in South Korea · Nationality South Korean — Conglomerates / Samsung
Documented profile covering 12 controversies, including “Payments into former President Roh Tae-woo's slush fund: corruption conviction” and “1997 presidential pardon following conviction in Roh Tae-woo affair”.
Profile No. 0350 · Updated on 12 October 2026
§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology
2000s–2018
Police announced in 2018 that they had discovered 520 additional accounts in employees' or executives' names used to hold Lee's shares and estimated that approximately 85.6 billion won in taxes might have been evaded. The case was referred to prosecutors.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
2008–2018
An investigation concluded that several billion won from Samsung C&T funds had been used to pay for renovations at the Lee family's private residences. Samsung C&T executives were indicted in the case.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
2011–2017
In 2016, secretly recorded videos were published, allegedly showing women receiving money following meetings at locations linked to Lee. Prosecutors investigated possible paid sexual services as well as clandestine filming and extortion surrounding the videos.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
2012–2014
Lee's elder brother, Lee Maeng-hee, and subsequently a sister sought a share of Samsung stock that they claimed had been entrusted by their father and later absorbed by Lee Kun-hee. The dispute concerned assets worth billions of dollars and control of the group.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
Case · 4 documented stages
1996–2009
Lee was prosecuted for criminal breach of trust in connection with Everland's issue of convertible bonds at a very low price, enabling his children, including Lee Jae-yong, to acquire a controlling stake and facilitate succession within the group.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
1999–2009
Samsung SDS issued bonds with warrants at a price far below the value considered fair, benefiting Lee Jae-yong among others. Following a Supreme Court referral, the Seoul High Court found in August 2009 that the transaction had caused approximately 22.7 billion won in losses to Samsung SDS and found Lee Kun-hee guilty of criminal breach of trust.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
2009-12
A few months after his conviction involving Samsung SDS and tax fraud, Lee received a special presidential pardon and rehabilitation, officially enabling him to resume a role within the International Olympic Committee and support PyeongChang's bid for the Winter Olympics.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
1999–2008
The special investigation established that Lee held substantial stock assets in employees' or associates' names and had failed to pay more than 112 billion won in capital gains taxes. He was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to three years' imprisonment suspended for five years and fined 110 billion won.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
2007–2008
Former Samsung lawyer Kim Yong-chul accused the group and Lee of maintaining a vast slush fund and bribing judicial, political and administrative officials. A special prosecutor discovered assets worth trillions of won held under nominees' names and prosecuted Lee on tax and succession-related charges.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
2005
Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.
Secret recordings known as the "X-files" revealed conversations between Samsung executives discussing political funding and links with prosecutors. The scandal triggered an investigation into possible illegal political funds and corruption.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
Case · 2 documented stages
1988–1997
Lee Kun-hee acknowledged that Samsung had made four payments of ten billion won each to former President Roh Tae-woo. He was convicted of corruption in 1996 and received a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
1997
Lee received a presidential pardon in 1997 after his corruption conviction linked to Roh Tae-woo's slush fund. The measure fuelled lasting debate over pardons granted to major business executives.
Last verified: 21 August 2026
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