Lee is the son of former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee.
Hes been leading the Samsung group since his father suffered a heart attack in 2014.
Kun-hee passed away in 2020.
Illustration: Jody Serrano / Gizmodo / Seong Joon Cho / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Lee has maintained his innocence and stated the merger helped make the multinational company more stable.
The court appeared to agree with Lees argument.
It was unclear on Monday whether prosecutors would appeal the courts ruling.
Lees acquittal is the newest chapter in the drama related to the controversial 2015 merger.
The scandal led to months of protests and outrage from South Koreans and the impeachment of Park.
In 2022, President Yoon Suk Yeol pardoned him for the bribery charges.
Lees legal wrongdoings dont appear to have affected him in the long run.
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