삼성이 한국을 지배한다고? 풉, 풋내기군

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG2OQsT8eGU

I can confidently say this video is just another example of a YouTuber pretending to know more than they actually do. "Pretending to be knowledgeable" would be a more accurate description. The video contains numerous inaccuracies, particularly regarding Samsung.

Yes, it’s true that Samsung contributes about 22% of Korea’s GDP, but its influence was grossly exaggerated in the video. If Samsung were as powerful as claimed, how do you explain its chairman, Lee Jae-yong, being arrested multiple times and spending years in jail? The charges brought against him were not even clear to many people.

It's worth noting that Lee Jae-yong’s father, Lee Kun-hee, did wield significant influence during President Roh Moo-hyun's administration (2003–2007). For instance, a Samsung executive, Chin Dae-je, served as the Minister of Information and Communication, and Lee’s uncle, Hong Seok-hyun, served as the ambassador to the United States. During that time, even economic decisions were reportedly influenced by reports from Samsung Global Research. However, this power began to wane after the Samsung Slush Fund Special Prosecution Act was passed in 2007. Since then, Samsung has been a frequent target of attacks from both the media and external entities, including the U.S.-based hedge fund Elliott Management.

Samsung's political influence has notably declined over the years. Prosecutors aligned with the Minjoo Party (Democratic Party of Korea) have often summoned its leaders, further diminishing its power. Moreover, over 50% of Samsung’s shares are owned by foreign investors, not Koreans. Bowing to international and domestic pressures, Lee Jae-yong announced in 2020 that he would not pass the company on to his children, signaling a significant shift in the company’s direction.

The video presents a shallow and surface-level analysis, akin to someone learning about Korea through YouTube without delving deeper into its history or socio-political complexities. Samsung's influence, like much of the other content in the video, has been heavily overstated and misrepresented.