Former Samsung chairman returns to IOC

VANCOUVER, Feb. 8 (Yonhap) -- Former Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee has
returned to the member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member,
officials said Monday.

The decision was made in a committee meeting held in Vancouver, where the Winter
Olympics is scheduled to kick off on Feb. 12.
Lee voluntarily gave up his rights and duties as an IOC member following his
conviction for tax evasion in 2008.
Lee was sentenced in last August to a three-year suspended prison term and a fine
of 110 billion won (US$89.2 million) for illegal bond transactions that caused
financial losses to a Samsung affiliate.
Last December, the South Korean government pardoned Lee, enabling him to play a
role in helping South Korea's alpine city of PyeongChang bid for the right to
host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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