Prosecution Seeks 2-Year Prison Sentence for Lee Myung-hee of Hanjin Group Over Repeated Employee Assaults (Update)

Prosecutors: "An Incident Occurred in a Typical Gap-Eul Relationship"

Former Ilwoo Foundation Director Lee Myung-hee, who was prosecuted for illegally employing a Filipino domestic worker, is leaving the courtroom after being sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation at the first trial held on the 2nd at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution has requested a two-year prison sentence for Lee Myung-hee, the wife of the late Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group, who was indicted on charges of repeatedly assaulting employees.

On the 7th, the prosecution made this request at Lee's sentencing hearing held before the Criminal Division 25-3 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee, Lim Jeong-yeop).

The prosecution stated, "Ultimately, this case involves the defendant using her superior position to repeatedly assault the victims, who were unable to respond due to livelihood concerns, a typical case of an abusive power relationship," and argued, "A sentence commensurate with the defendant's actions should be imposed."

Lee was indicted for verbally abusing or physically hitting nine employees, including drivers, 22 times from November 2011 to April 2018, causing injuries.

She was also indicted for illegally employing a Filipino domestic helper and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a three-year probation in the appellate trial last year.