Jailed Chief Barred from Paid Employment at Samsung

Jailed Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong has been barred from gainful employment in his sprawling business empire.

The Justice Ministry said Tuesday that it notified Lee, who is serving two-and-a-half years in jail for bribing ex-President Park Geun-hye with money embezzled from Samsung, that he is barred from paid employment at Samsung while in prison.

If a person is convicted of embezzlement or breach of trust, they cannot be employed in any businesses related to the crime for five years after their jail term ends or two years after their probation ends.

But Lee can subvert the ban because he has worked without pay for the last four years, which means he is strictly speaking not an employee. He is also not listed on the conglomerate's board of executives for 2019.

Lee can also apply to the ministry to review the ban and make an exception.