South Korea, Samsung empire heir released from prison convicted of corruption

After seven months in prison, Lee Jae-yong, the heir and de facto leader of the Samsung empire, was released from prison. He was convicted of corruption. As soon as he left the Uiwang detention center, some twenty kilometers from Seoul, the 53-year-old released a statement apologizing for his actions. “I apologize for causing great problems, I am very aware of these problems, criticisms and expectations,” he said in his brief statement. Lee Jae-yong was released from prison as part of a pardon that affected another 800 inmates on the occasion of Liberation Day, August 15, which celebrates the victory over Japan in World War II. His sentence was reduced from two and a half years to less than a year. But other non-custodial sentences remain in place, including a ban on resuming his work in the company – and others related to the crimes for which he was convicted – for five years.