Samsung Group, the powerful South Korean conglomerate made up by lucrative companies like Samsung Electronics, has shut down its official websites and blogs after the conglomerate's corporate strategy office was disbanded in February. The office was shut down following allegations of bribery and corruption which led to the arrest of the conglomerate's heir Lee Jae-yong. Many have viewed the decision to shut down the official website and blogs as a bid by the largest conglomerate in South Korea to improve its public image.
These websites and blogs were used by the Samsung Group to detail the company's history, philosophy as well as its corporate social responsibility activities for many of its affiliates. If you visit www.samsung.com now it will just redirect you to the Samsung Electronics website.
Samsung Group decided to take some responsibility for the corruption scandal by shutting down its corporate strategy office in February. A Samsung official cited in a local media report says that the conglomerate hasn't figured out as yet how it's going to operate CSR activities under the Samsung Group name. Discussions are taking place on whether to scrap all CSR activities or to transfer them to other affiliates.
Samsung will continue to operate its recruitment website but instead of group-wide recruitment events that took place twice a year in the past, the affiliate companies will conduct their own recruitment drives in different dates.
The biggest challenge still lies ahead for Samsung as it tries to find a way to defend Lee Jae-yong, the heir apparent, who has been behind bars for almost two months now. The formal trial is scheduled to begin this Friday.
