Former Kumho Asiana Chairman Park Sam-gu is entering the funeral hall at Seoul Samsung Hospital, where the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's wake is being held, on the afternoon of the 26th to pay his respects. Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating allegations of 'unfair support among affiliates' within Kumho Asiana Group is reportedly planning to summon former Chairman Park Sam-gu for questioning this week.
According to the prosecution and industry sources on the 13th, the Fair Trade Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Min-hyung) has notified former Chairman Park's side to appear for investigation this week.
There are reports that the prosecution previously requested former Chairman Park to appear twice, last week and earlier this week, but he postponed his appearance.
The prosecution is expected to decide on the direction of legal action against former Chairman Park after the investigation. To prevent any disruption to the investigation schedule, his departure from the country has also been prohibited. According to legal circles, it is highly unusual to impose a travel ban on current or former heads of large corporations in cases of Fair Trade Act violations, which carry a maximum sentence of up to three years imprisonment or fines up to 2 billion KRW.
In August last year, the Fair Trade Commission imposed corrective orders and a fine of 32 billion KRW on Kumho Asiana Group for unfairly supporting Kumho Express (Kumho Holdings), which has a high ownership stake by the group’s head, through affiliates such as Asiana Airlines. Subsequently, Kumho Industrial, Asiana Airlines, former Chairman Park, and two executives from the then Strategy Management Office were also reported to the prosecution.
In November last year, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure at Kumho Asiana Group headquarters and Asiana Airlines offices, securing accounting books and electronic data.
Following this, the prosecution found evidence that former Executive Director Yoon of Kumho Asiana Group’s Strategy Management Office and Fair Trade Commission employee Song exchanged money and deleted data unfavorable to Kumho, and they were indicted while in custody.
Earlier this month, Park Mo, former head of the group’s Strategy Management Office, who was also reported along with former Chairman Park, was summoned and investigated as a suspect.
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