Seoul, July 17, 2025 — South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee in a long-running legal battle over alleged accounting fraud and stock manipulation related to a controversial $8 billion merger in 2015.
The verdict affirms rulings by both lower and appellate courts, ending a nearly decade-long saga that began when prosecutors accused Lee of orchestrating the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries to consolidate control over the tech conglomerate following his father’s incapacitation.
With the court’s decision, Lee is now permanently cleared of all charges, a development analysts say removes a major legal overhang just as Samsung pushes to regain its leadership in the fiercely competitive artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors.
“This ruling clears a layer of legal uncertainty, which could be a long-term positive for Samsung,” said Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities. He added that a more active role by Lee could help management focus on long-term strategy rather than quarterly pressures.
Samsung’s shares rose slightly, up 1.7% after the ruling. While the decision was widely expected, it comes at a pivotal time for both Lee and the company, which is striving to reclaim dominance in next-gen chipmaking amid global AI acceleration and escalating US-China tech tensions.
Samsung’s legal team issued a brief statement, expressing gratitude to the court and emphasizing that the ruling confirms the merger’s legality. Business groups, including the Korea Enterprises Federation, also welcomed the decision, calling it a stabilizing move for the South Korean economy.
They noted that Samsung’s leadership role is vital at a time of increasing global trade pressure and competition in high-tech industries. “We hope Samsung, under Chairman Lee’s direction, will expand investments and contribute to job creation and economic recovery,” the federation stated.
Jay Y. Lee has faced multiple legal hurdles since the 2015 merger and his father’s incapacitation in 2014. With the legal distractions now behind him, analysts say Lee must balance two urgent missions: strengthening his hold over the Samsung empire and leading innovation in core and emerging tech sectors.
“Lee must both defend Samsung’s core businesses and find new growth engines, all while consolidating his control,” said Park Ju-gun, head of corporate analysis firm Leaders Index.
