Samsung's Lee says corruption spread group-wide

SEOUL (Yonhap) - Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., said Thursday that corruption is widespread in Samsung Group, signaling that he may order a group-wide audit and a far-reaching management reshuffle.
"Samsung Techwin was a coincidence (that irregularities were found). It seems that corruption is widespread in all Samsung affiliates," Lee told reporters as he arrived at the company's office in southern Seoul.
The remarks from South Korea's wealthiest man came after a chief executive officer at Samsung Techwin Co., the group's arms-making unit, offered to resign after an internal audit found improper behaviors by employees.
Samsung officials declined to discuss details of the audit and what prompted the chief to resign.
Infuriated by the audit results, Lee reprimanded his senior executives and ordered to beef up the auditing team to uproot corruption, Samsung's chief spokesman said Wednesday.
Lee, the son of the Samsung Group founder, hinted that he may intensify an internal probe and a personnel reshuffle may be in the offing.
"I've been worried, so I'm trying to make this an issue," he said. "Corruption can entail getting favors or grafts, but the worst kind is to grill staff members to force them to do improper activities."
Lee, a reclusive leader who usually works from his Seoul residence, began making biweekly visits to Samsung's office in Gangnam in April this year.