Prosecution Looking into the Suspicion
Samsung Group has denied rumors about illegal propofol use by Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is currently looking into the suspicion.
According to a local news outlet, an anonymous person filed a report about Lee's repeated use of the medication and the prosecution initiated an investigation, the medication was used at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul in 2017, and the report was filed with the Korean Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission by an acquaintance of an employee of the clinic. Later, the case was handed over to the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office in January this year and then to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office more recently.
Samsung Group released an official statement on Feb. 13, saying that the rumors are groundless, and he has used the medication for authorized treatment purposes only.
“We are considering filing a civil or criminal suit against the news outlet for its malicious false report,” Samsung Group explained, adding, “Speculative news reports can seriously affect both the company and investors, and we anticipate a calm attention to the investigation by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office so that speculation and conjecture cannot be repeated anymore.”