South Korea Supreme Court Upholds Samsung Chairman Lee Acquittal Merger Fraud Charges

South Korea's Supreme Court has finalized the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong in a long-running legal case related to the 2015 merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, rejecting charges of unfair trading, stock price manipulation, and accounting fraud. The court upheld lower court rulings that cleared Lee of all charges, citing issues such as illegally collected evidence and no errors in the original judgments. This verdict removes a significant legal obstacle for Lee, who has faced nearly a decade of judicial challenges since the merger was seen as pivotal to his succession after his father’s incapacitation. Despite the prolonged legal saga, Lee has recently resumed active global engagements and Samsung appears to be cautiously reviving its dealmaking activities following years of restraint. However, Samsung continues to face challenges in its core semiconductor business amid intensifying global competition and efforts to catch up in AI chip development. The Supreme Court's decision thus marks a critical moment for Lee and Samsung’s strategic direction moving forward.