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South Korean firms face rare corruption hearing South Korean firms face rare corruption hearing
(about 3 hours later)
South Korean lawmakers are questioning leaders of the country's biggest businesses in a rare televised hearing as part of a huge corruption inquiry.South Korean lawmakers are questioning leaders of the country's biggest businesses in a rare televised hearing as part of a huge corruption inquiry.
Samsung, Hyundai Motor and six other firms face accusations they gave millions of dollars to funds linked to President Park Geun-hye in exchange for favours. Samsung, Hyundai and six other firms admitted giving millions of dollars to funds linked to President Park Geun-hye, but denied seeking favours.
Ms Park faces impeachment proceedings in relation to the scandal. Samsung admitted to giving the daughter of Ms Park's friend an expensive horse.
Parliament is due to vote on Friday on Ms Park's impeachment over her involvement in the scandal.
Massive protests have been held in recent weeks demanding her resignation.Massive protests have been held in recent weeks demanding her resignation.
The executives are being questioned by a cross-party committee of lawmakers. The panel has no power to punish but its chairman has said the hearing will be a place for apology. The executives are being questioned by a cross-party committee of lawmakers. The panel has no power to punish but its chairman has said the hearing is a place for apology.
One of the corporate bosses acknowledged that it was difficult for firms to say no to government requests.
"It's a South Korean reality that if there is a government request, it is difficult for companies to decline," said Huh Chang-soo, head of the GS Group and chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries lobby group.
The conglomerates all gave large donations to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a close confidante of Ms Park.The conglomerates all gave large donations to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a close confidante of Ms Park.
Ms Choi has been charged with coercion and attempted fraud.Ms Choi has been charged with coercion and attempted fraud.
Prosecutors have alleged that the businesses gave the donations in exchange for political favours and have conducted several raids on them and related government entities.
They have also alleged that Ms Park had a "considerable" role in the scandal, which she has denied.
Hard questions: Stephen Evans, BBC News, SeoulHard questions: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul
These are men who never appear in public if they can help it. They normally live in an enclave of power and wealth, hidden behind the shaded glass of chauffeur-driven black cars.These are men who never appear in public if they can help it. They normally live in an enclave of power and wealth, hidden behind the shaded glass of chauffeur-driven black cars.
But they filed in, each in their corporate uniform of a dark suit. They raised their right hands and promised to tell the truth. And then they were subject to what they are not used to: hard questions which some might deem impertinent.But they filed in, each in their corporate uniform of a dark suit. They raised their right hands and promised to tell the truth. And then they were subject to what they are not used to: hard questions which some might deem impertinent.
The hearing has the air of a spectacle because press photographers have been allowed to stay and they crane towards the business titans from ladders, constantly firing off loud barrages of clicks.The hearing has the air of a spectacle because press photographers have been allowed to stay and they crane towards the business titans from ladders, constantly firing off loud barrages of clicks.
The de-facto head of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, seemed discomfited by questioning. His eyes moistened when his bed-ridden father was mentioned. And he gulped when asked how much inheritance tax he had paid. He didn't know, he said.The de-facto head of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, seemed discomfited by questioning. His eyes moistened when his bed-ridden father was mentioned. And he gulped when asked how much inheritance tax he had paid. He didn't know, he said.
He did defend donations to funds controlled by a friend of the president. His company often gave money to what seemed like a good cause. He did defend donations to funds controlled by a friend of the president, saying his company often gave money to what seemed like a good cause.
Lawmakers spent the most time grilling Mr Lee, who is running Samsung in lieu of his father who is ill. Lawmakers spent the most time grilling Mr Lee. Samsung has been accused of giving donations in exchange for support of a controversial merger that effectively strengthened his position in the company.
Samsung has been accused of giving donations in exchange for support of a controversial merger that effectively strengthened Mr Lee's position in the company. The company gave a total of 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations.
Like the other leaders questioned, he denied the allegations. Like the other leaders, Mr Lee denied the allegations, saying Samsung "never provided support or gave donations in return for something".
"There are often requests from various parts of society including for culture and sports," Mr Lee was quoted as saying by Reuters. But he admitted that his company provided a one billion won (£670,000, $855,000) horse to Ms Choi's daughter, a professional equestrian, and said he regretted it.
We have never contributed seeking quid pro quo. This case was the same." Mr Lee apologised for Samsung's involvement in the scandal and said his company would "take all responsibility" if there was any.
South Korea's family-owned conglomerates, known as chaebols, have increasingly been perceived as a symbol of the out-of-touch elite and become a target of public fury. South Korea's family-owned conglomerates, known as chaebols, have increasingly been perceived as a symbol of the out-of-touch elite, and have become a target of public fury in recent protests calling for Ms Park's resignation.
Over the weekend tens of thousands of protesters staged the latest in a series of demonstrations in Seoul calling for Ms Park to leave office and to express anger at chaebols.
Ms Park has apologised multiple times to the public for allowing Ms Choi inappropriate access to government decisions but has stopped short of resigning.Ms Park has apologised multiple times to the public for allowing Ms Choi inappropriate access to government decisions but has stopped short of resigning.
Last week she said she would leave it up to parliament to decide whether to remove her from office. Last week she said she would leave it to parliament to decide her fate, and on Tuesday she was quoted by her party's leader as saying she would accept the outcome of Friday's impeachment vote.