Justice Minister Park Beom-kye has indicated Samsung’s de-facto leader Lee Jae-yong, who was recently released on parole, will be able to immediately participate in the management of the tech giant despite a five-year parole restriction prohibiting him from taking up managerial duties. 

In a meeting with reporters on Wednesday, Park said he sees the current conditions of Lee’s parole and employment restrictions would satisfy the public's sense of justice. 

He said a majority of the people who supported the early release of the Samsung Electronics vice chairman had done so on expectations regarding his role in addressing COVID-19 vaccine shortages and growing global competition in the semiconductor industry.

Lee participating in the company’s management without receiving financial reward or any official positions is outside the scope of employment restrictions, the minister said. 

The 53-year-old Samsung scion was released last Friday ahead of Liberation Day. Lee was handed a two-and-a-half year sentence in an influence peddling scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil in a bid to win government support for a smooth father-to-son power transfer at Samsung Group.