Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was sentenced to two years and six months in prison at a repatriation trial for the destruction of Gukjeong Nongdan today (18th), and foreign media quickly reported the news of being arrested by the court.
Foreign media especially paid attention to the impact of Vice Chairman Lee's arrest on Samsung Electronics.
Bloomberg News predicted that "amid intensifying uncertainties such as US-China relations, intensifying competition, and Corona 19, the absence of Vice Chairman Lee will stop or make it difficult for Samsung Electronics' long-term strategic actions and large-scale investments."
The BBC explained that the ruling would also affect the role of Vice Chairman Lee in Samsung Electronics.
Reuters, along with Vice Chairman Lee's leadership, predicted that it would have a great influence on the view of Koreans looking at large companies.
Deutsche Belle, a German public broadcaster, pointed out that the succession work that has been underway since the death of the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee in October last year could also be disrupted.
(Photo = Yonhap News)