‘Forced Union Withdrawal and Bribery’ SPC CEO Hwang Jaebok ‘Arrested’…Court "Concern Over Evidence Tampering"

Hwang Jae-bok, CEO of SPC, who is accused of forcing Paris Baguette bakers to withdraw from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and providing money and gifts in exchange for prosecution investigation information, was detained on the 4th.

Shin Young-hee, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) of Hwang, who is charged with violating the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and bribery, and issued an arrest warrant, citing "concerns about evidence destruction."

Hwang Jaebok, CEO of SPC

Hwang is accused of urging members of the KCTU's Hwaseom Food Union Paris Baguette branch, who worked at PB Partners, an SPC subsidiary, to withdraw from the union and giving them disadvantages in personnel matters between July 2019 and July 2022.

He is also accused of unfair labor practices, such as supporting the PB Partners labor union under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) Food Industry Union, which is favorable to management, in securing union members, and having the union chairman issue interviews or statements aligned with the management's position.

Additionally, from September 2020 to May last year, he is accused of conspiring with former Executive Director Baek and receiving various investigation information, including the fact of a search and seizure warrant request and internal review reports, from prosecution investigator Kim, and providing entertainment and money worth about 6.2 million won in return. Baek and Kim are currently detained and indicted.

This period coincides with when SPC Chairman Heo Young-in was under prosecution investigation for violations of the Fair Trade Act and breach of trust. The prosecution suspects that Executive Director Baek leaked investigation information to Hwang through Kim, with whom he had a close relationship. It is also reported that the prosecution secured evidence that Hwang paid for gifts provided to Kim with his corporate card and entertained Kim with golf.

During the detention period, which can last up to 20 days, the prosecution plans to verify Hwang's charges and investigate whether there was involvement from higher-ups, including Chairman Heo.