Samsung Heir's Drug Use and Sexual Misconduct Allegations Raise Questions of Corruption

In a shocking revelation, voice recordings obtained by Newtamsa have brought to light allegations of habitual propofol use and sexual misconduct by Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and heir to the Samsung empire. The recordings, dating back to 2020, feature conversations between a whistleblower named Jang Si-ho and prosecutor Kim Young-cheol, who was then the head of the Special Trial Team 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

According to Jang, Lee frequently visited a plastic surgery clinic where he would receive propofol injections after hours and engage in sexual activities with a woman present. CCTV footage from the clinic allegedly shows Lee disguised in a wig and fake mustache, and a blood-stained syringe was reportedly discovered during a raid on the clinic. These details were corroborated by records from the investigation into the clinic's director.

The recordings also suggest that prosecutor Kim sought to leverage this information against Lee, as Samsung's heir faced a retrial in his bribery case in late 2020. Kim allegedly promised to drop charges against Jang in exchange for information about Lee's drug use, seeing it as an opportunity to gain an upper hand in the trial.

However, the prosecution did not immediately launch an investigation into Lee's propofol use, instead waiting until after the conclusion of the bribery trial. The propofol case, initially set to be handled through a summary indictment, was eventually merged with a second clinic incident mentioned by Jang and sent to a formal trial. The trial took place only after Lee was released on parole in August 2021 and concluded with a fine of 70 million won (approximately $60,000).

Legal experts suspect that the prosecution intentionally delayed the drug investigation, possibly as part of a deal with Samsung in which the company would admit to some charges in the bribery case in exchange for a postponed drug probe. Lee had, in fact, acknowledged key allegations in the bribery case.

The close relationship between Jang and Kim is evident throughout the 1,200 recordings, with Jang referring to Kim as "Kim Star" or "oppa" (older brother) and Lee as "JY" or "Flower." Notably, Kim was the only prosecutor referred to by a nickname rather than his real name, and he was consistently cited as the source of investigation information, suggesting he was in a position to provide favors to Jang during the investigation.

Many of the allegations raised by Jang have been confirmed, including Lee's propofol use and inappropriate sexual relations. Jang's own legal troubles, such as his embezzlement case involving the Young Jae Sports Center, concluded with a loss in civil court but no criminal charges, while his drug-related charges were never even indicted.

Both Samsung and the prosecution have remained silent on the matter, with Kim only engaging in media play by releasing an apology message from Jang. If the allegations prove true, this case represents a power-related corruption scandal involving collusion between a major corporation, the prosecution, and the Ministry of Justice. A thorough investigation is necessary to uncover the truth and sever the unhealthy ties between big business and law enforcement. Only an impartial investigation can address the public's doubts and restore trust in the system.