Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at SPC Chairman Suspected of Involvement in Forcing Union Withdrawal

Prosecutors investigating allegations that employees of PB Partners, an SPC Group affiliate, forced Paris Baguette bakery workers to withdraw from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) labor union are conducting an additional search and seizure at SPC headquarters.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-dong, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the legal community on the 30th, the Public Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Im Sambin) sent prosecutors and investigators to SPC Group headquarters to secure internal meeting materials. SPC Group Chairman Huh Young-in was also included in the search and seizure targets.

The prosecution is investigating allegations that PB Partners committed unfair labor practices, such as coercing members of the KCTU Hwasum Food Workers' Union Paris Baguette branch to withdraw from the union or imposing personnel disadvantages. PB Partners is a company responsible for recruiting and training Paris Baguette bakery workers. In particular, prosecutors are recently examining whether SPC was involved at the group level. The search and seizure on this day is reportedly related to this matter. This is the second time prosecutors have searched SPC headquarters in connection with this case, following the first search on the 12th.

Earlier, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch transferred the SPC PB Partners case, which was sent by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in October last year. The Ministry of Employment and Labor Seongnam Branch, which first investigated the case, indicted a total of 28 people, including PB Partners CEO Hwang Jae-bok, four current and former executives, six department heads, and 17 middle managers, on charges of violating the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, and transferred the case to the prosecution.

They are accused of urging bakery workers to withdraw from the KCTU union and discriminating against KCTU union members in the promotion process.