Titans of Korea Inc face questions in political scandal

Samsung Group's heir-apparent Lee Jae-yong (L) answers a question as Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-Bin (R) listens during a parliamentary probe into a scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye at the National Assembly in Seoul on December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean corporate chiefs told a parliamentary panel on Tuesday that they were not seeking favours when they made contributions to two foundations at the heart of a scandal that appears poised to bring down President Park Geun-hye.

Still, the head of the GS Group, one of the nine conglomerate bosses summoned to appear at the unprecedented televised hearing, acknowledged that it was hard to say no to the government.