South Korea's most powerful tycoons, including de facto Samsung chief Lee Jae-Yong, stammered and squirmed today under a verbal assault from a parliamentary committee probing a corruption scandal that has riveted the nation.
Millions watched in astonishment as the televised hearing showed the heads of the country's eight largest conglomerates being publicly harangued over donations their companies made to dubious foundations controlled by Choi Soo-Sil, a close friend of President Park Geun-Hye.
"Do you know anything?" one legislator chided Lee as he repeatedly claimed ignorance of who in Samsung authorised cash transfers to a foundation in Germany that funded the equestrian training of Choi's daughter.
"Do you think you're doing a good job as the head of a global company like Samsung by saying that you don't know?" the legislator demanded.
The vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics and de facto head of the entire Samsung Group looked deeply uncomfortable as he sought to bat away questions with what sounded like rehearsed expressions of remorse and contrition.
"I have so many weaknesses and Samsung has things to correct," Lee responded when asked if he agreed with the public perception that the conglomerates known as chaebols had knowingly connived with Choi.
"This crisis made me realise that we need to change ourselves," Lee added, ignoring demands to answer the question and prompting one exasperated committee member to shout: "Stop giving ridiculous answers and excuses!"
Choi Soon-Sil is currently awaiting trial on charges of coercion and abuse of power. Park on Friday faces an impeachment vote in parliament which is almost certain to be adopted with the backing of more than 30 members of her own Saenuri Party.
Park is accused of colluding in Choi's efforts to strong-arm the companies represented at today's hearing into funding two foundations that Choi allegedly used as personal ATMs.
Samsung made the biggest contributions of 20 billion won (now USD 17 million), followed by Hyundai, SK, LG and Lotte whose chairman were also grilled at today's hearing.
Their giant family-run corporations, or "chaebols", have dominated the export-driven direction of Asia's fourth largest economy for decades.
They all denied providing funds in return for favours but suggested they regularly came under pressure from high-level political circles.
"It's difficult for corporations to turn down a request from the (presidential) Blue House," said Huh Chang-Soo, chair of the GS Group and head of the Federation of Korean Industries.
Lee told the hearing that Samsung received many requests for funding, but "never provided support or gave donations in return for something".
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