News
Prosecutors push for 5-Year jail for Samsung ‘prince’
South Korean prosecutors sought 5 years in prison (jail) and a $375,000 fine for Samsung chief (conglomerate prince) Jay Y Lee. The decision on Korean prosecutors’ appeal could be announced in January or February next year.
Samsung chief Jay Y Lee (Lee Jae-yong) was indicted on charges of illegal merger and accounting fraud related to the succession of management rights. Lee was previously pardoned by the Korean President over bribery charges.
Apart from this, the prosecution sought sentences of:
- 4 years and 6 months in prison with a fine of 500 million won for Choi Ji-sung, former head of Samsung’s Future Strategy Office.
- 4 years and 6 months in prison with a fine of 500 million won for Kim Jong-jung, former head of the strategy team.
- 3 years in prison with a fine of 100 million won for Jang Chung-ki, former deputy head of the Future Strategy Office.
The prosecutors said on Monday: “The defendant damaged the capital market’s foundation for the group’s succession… The ruling in this case will serve as a reference point for restructuring chaebol companies, [which is a large, family-controlled business conglomerate in South Korea], and accounting in the future.”
The Korean prosecutors highlight that this case’s ruling will set a benchmark for future restructuring of conglomerates and accounting practices.
If acquitted, controlling shareholders will have no hesitation in using illegal and improper methods to push for mergers that benefit their interests, prosecutors concerned.
Lee stated, “I am well aware that concerns about Samsung’s future are very high” and promised, “I will definitely overcome this difficult situation and move forward.”
Samsung is preparing for its mega Unpacked event, likely to be held in early 2025. The company has recently started the mass production of the new smartphones and officially unveiled the Galaxy XR headset, codenamed Project Moohan.
A new leak (via Alvin/X) revealed key details about the Samsung Unpacked 2025 including the event date and time, location, unveiling devices, and more. It’s going to be a big event and you can expect many exciting unveilings.
Per the info, Samsung could hold the Galaxy Unpacked on January 22, 2025. The in-person event and online livestream may kick off at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Interestingly, the new leak suggests San Jose as the venue for the Unpacked event.
- Washington, US (Eastern Time): 1:00 p.m. ET
- London, UK: 6:00 p.m. GMT
- New Delhi, India: 11:30 p.m. IST
Samsung held the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 in San Jose to unveil the Galaxy S24 series. Previous leaks point to San Francisco as the Unpacked venue for the next year. It would be interesting to see what Samsung picks for the mega unveiling.
We all are well aware of the upcoming devices that include the S25 series. Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. The recently revealed XR headset (Project Moohan) could be teased, and probably the Glasses too.
Aside from this, the official One UI 7 will also be introduced. The new flagships will come pre-loaded with the latest software. However, the rollout plan of the One UI 7.0 update is expected to be released by Samsung.
Leaks suggest that Samsung is unlikely to raise the Galaxy S25 series price. The company is highly inspired by Apple as iPhone 16 series prices are intact. The Korean units may be slightly costlier than the global variants due to political chaos.
Samsung has opened a Customer Service Store in the Macquarie Centre, Sydney, offering a fresh and customer-focused shopping experience. Located on Level 4 of Macquarie Centre at Herring Road &Waterloo Rd, the store is designed to give customers an immersive experience with Samsung’s wide range of connected devices.
The Samsung Store features self-discovery zones where shoppers can explore products in detail and consultation lounges where they can get personalized advice and support. The lounges are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools to help customers troubleshoot any issues with their devices.
This store also aims to minimize device downtime. It offers on-site repairs so customers can get their devices fixed while they shop, with the backing of an authorized service center. This quick and efficient service ensures customers don’t have to wait long for solutions.
Samsung is Australia’s most trusted consumer products brand (Roy Morgan in December 2024) as it is dedicated to delivering high-quality products and exceptional customer service. The opening of this new store shows Samsung’s commitment to providing a seamless, customer-friendly experience that blends innovation with care.
Muneeb Ekhlaque, Head of Customer Service at Samsung Electronics Australia, said, “We’re excited to offer a new store in Sydney that improves the overall customer experience. We understand how important technology is to Australians, and this store is designed to make shopping and support easier and more enjoyable.”
Samsung’s One UI 7 Beta Program for Galaxy S24 series hit full capacity. If you missed joining the Beta Program, there’s good news: Samsung is expected to reopen the One UI 7 Beta on Monday along with the Beta 2 launch.
Max Jambor revealed that Samsung may open the second phase of One UI 7 Beta registration, and the date aligns with previous rumors of a Beta 2 launch. The rollout of the second Beta should bring another opportunity to join the Beta.
At present, Samsung is running the Beta Program for the Galaxy S24 series. The program is already live in four out of six key markets: Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US.
Samsung stopped Beta registrations just the next day after the Beta launch in the US. It seems the slots are fewer than last year, keeping the Beta build restricted to a limited audience.
Recently, Samsung Support confirmed that the One UI 7 Beta Program will start on December 16 in India, and the same date is rumored for the remaining European market: Poland.
The Beta participants will receive an incremental update as Beta 2 on their Galaxy S24 device. However, the latest build will directly be provided to the Wave 2 markets: India and Poland.
The second Beta of One UI 7 will bring improved animation and transition effects. Samsung users can expect more natural and fluid system animations in the next Beta updates.
One UI 7 Beta 2 – What to expect?
- Smoother animations, fluid transitions
- Enhanced performance and lesser app incompatibility
- Bug fixes and overall user experience improvements