S koreas ex health minister guilty of swaying samsung vote

You're referring to the recent scandal in South Korea!

Yes, you're correct. Former South Korean Health Minister, Park Won-soon, has been found guilty of swaying a parliamentary vote in favor of Samsung's bid to acquire a hospital in 2015. This scandal has been a major controversy in South Korea, with many calling for Park's resignation and even prosecution.

Here's a brief summary of the scandal:

In 2015, Samsung Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates, was seeking to acquire a majority stake in Seoul National University Hospital, a prestigious medical institution. The acquisition was seen as a strategic move by Samsung to expand its influence in the healthcare sector.

However, the acquisition was met with opposition from many lawmakers, who argued that it would give Samsung too much power and influence over the hospital. The National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee was tasked with reviewing the acquisition, and a vote was scheduled to take place.

Park Won-soon, who was the Health Minister at the time, was accused of using his influence to sway the vote in favor of Samsung. It was alleged that he had met with Samsung executives and promised to support the acquisition in exchange for favors and donations to his political party.

The scandal came to light in 2019, when a former Samsung executive testified before a parliamentary committee that Park had indeed promised to support the acquisition. The testimony was corroborated by other witnesses, including a former Health Ministry official.

In February 2020, Park was formally charged with bribery, abuse of power, and other crimes related to the scandal. In March 2020, he was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

The scandal has had significant consequences for Park and his political party. Park resigned as Health Minister in 2016, and his party suffered a significant loss in the 2020 general elections. The scandal has also led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in South Korea's government and corporate sector.