Free Trial

South Korea's top court upholds acquittal of Samsung's Lee over contentious 2015 merger

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

Key Points

  • South Korea’s Supreme Court dismissed prosecutors’ appeal, making its decision to uphold Lee Jae-yong’s acquittal on criminal charges related to the 2015 merger final and unappealable.
  • Lower courts had acquitted him of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud in 2024, ruling prosecutors failed to prove the merger was unlawfully aimed at strengthening his control.
  • Lee, who became Samsung Electronics chairman in 2022, previously served 18 months in prison after a 2017 bribery conviction over the same merger before being paroled and later pardoned in 2022.
  • Some minority shareholders and critics argued the 2015 merger unfairly benefited the Lee family while diluting their stakes in Samsung affiliates.
  • MarketBeat previews the top five stocks to own by August 1st.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s top court Thursday upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on financial criminal charges, ending years of legal disputes over the 2015 merger between Samsung affiliates that solidified his control over the company.

In 2024, the Seoul Central District Court acquitted Lee of charges like stock price manipulation and accounting fraud by ruling that prosecutors failed to sufficiently prove the merger was unlawfully conducted with an aim to strengthen Lee’s control over Samsung.

The Seoul High Court upheld the district court's ruling in February, and the Supreme Court dismissed prosecutors' appeal of the high court's decision Thursday. Its ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

Samsung’s lawyers said in a statement that they “sincerely thank” the Supreme Court for “wisely" ruling on the case. They said the ruling confirmed the 2015 merger was legitimate.

Lee, a third-generation corporate heir who was officially appointed chairman of Samsung Electronics in 2022, has led the Samsung group of companies since 2014, when his late father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack. The senior Lee died in 2020.

Lee Jae-yong served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2017 on separate bribery charges related to the 2015 merger.

He was originally sentenced to five years in prison for offering bribes to then-President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante to win government support for the merger, which was key to strengthening his control over the Samsung business empire and solidifying the father-to-son leadership succession.

Lee was paroled in 2021 and pardoned by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol in 2022.

Some shareholders opposed the 2015 merger, saying it unfairly benefited the Lee family while hurting minority shareholders.

Where Should You Invest $1,000 Right Now?

Before you make your next trade, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis.

Our team has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and none of the big name stocks were on the list.

They believe these five stocks are the five best companies for investors to buy now...

See The Five Stocks Here

A Guide To High-Short-Interest Stocks Cover

MarketBeat's analysts have just released their top five short plays for July 2025. Learn which stocks have the most short interest and how to trade them. Enter your email address to see which companies made the list.

Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.

Featured Articles and Offers

Recent Videos

Time to Cash Out? 5 Stocks to Drop Before Earnings
Watch Before Monday: Stocks to Load Up on Before Earnings
3 Hot Growth Stocks to Watch Right Now!

Stock Lists

All Stock Lists

Investing Tools

Calendars and Tools

Search Headlines