SEOUL, South Korea — Jay Y. Lee, heir to one of the world’s biggest corporate empires, followed in the footsteps of his prominent father. He took charge of key businesses. He hobnobbed with his country’s president. He brought in new ideas.

Then, like his father, he was charged with breaking the law.

Mr. Lee, the de facto leader of South Korea’s Samsung Group, was indicted on a charge of bribery this past week, accused of taking part in a political scandal that has rocked his