Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong never attended a board of directors' meeting last year, according to an analysis of the 2018 business report by the Solidarity for Economic Reform.
Samsung Electronics explained that it was unable for Vice Chairman Lee to attend the meetings due to the trial, but he did not attend Samsung Electronics' board of directors' meeting even after he was released after receiving a suspended sentence from an appeals court in February last year.
Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo was also absent from both the board of directors' meetings of Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis. Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun showed a 27 percent attendance rate at the board of directors' meetings at Hyundai Motor and 9 percent attendance rate at Hyundai Mobis, while he never attended the board meetings of Kia Motors and Hyundai Steel.
Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin, who had been in jail since February last year, had a 7 percent attendance rate when he attended the board of directors' meeting of Lotte Holdings once after being released by an appeals court in October that year.
Kumho Asiana's former Chairman Park Sam-koo served as an in-house director at major affiliates such as Kumho Industrial and Asiana Airlines, but showed low attendance rates of 7.1 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
Kolon's former chairman Lee Woong-yeol, who retired last year, had the zero percent attendance rate at 18 board meetings held before his retirement.
LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo, on the other hand, recorded a 100 percent attendance rate.
The Solidarity for Economic Reform criticized, "The chairmen of the groups who do not attend the board meetings seem to only enjoy their authority as board members and avoid the responsibility that corresponds to them. They should put down their posts by themselves if they do not want to do the minimum duty of attending the board meetings."
