Prosecutors: "SPC Leaked Related Information and Conducted Tabletop Exercises in Preparation for Investigation"

Suspicion of Leak Including Whether Hwang Jaebok Is Subject to Travel Ban

SPC Group was found to have leaked related information and even conducted mock training in preparation for the investigation into Chairman Heo Young-in's embezzlement charges, according to the prosecution's investigation.

On the 29th, according to the legal community, the prosecution identified that SPC Executive Director Baek Mo (detained and indicted) and prosecution investigator Kim Mo (detained and indicted) had known each other since around 2016 through a Donghyang alumni gathering, and that their exchanges intensified after Kim was assigned to the Fair Trade Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office handling the SPC case.

On January 10, 2022, Baek suggested to Hwang Jae-bok, CEO of SPC, that they conduct mock training and receive coaching to prepare for investigations involving Kim, to which CEO Hwang responded enthusiastically, saying, "Oh, that would be great. I will not forget this favor." With Kim's approval of Baek's proposal, they arranged to hold the mock training at the SPC headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu on the 22nd of the same month.

However, the prosecution found that the day before the training, CEO Hwang felt uncomfortable, so only Baek met with Kim to hear about the investigation status and then relayed the information to CEO Hwang. Upon being informed by Baek that Kim was scheduled to come for the mock training, CEO Hwang reportedly instructed, "Buy Kim some delicious food and drinks," as noted in the prosecution's indictment.

As planned, Kim met with Baek and showed him the "Interim Investigation Results on SPC Group Affiliates' Unfair Support Case" report prepared by the investigation team prosecutor, explaining in detail the progress of the investigation, evidence relationships, and future case handling plans. Baek reportedly even took photos of parts of the report with his mobile phone.

In return, Kim received from Baek a lunch worth approximately 28,000 KRW per person, 50 SPC Group product gift certificates valued at about 500,000 KRW, and a shopping bag containing a cookie set worth 78,000 KRW. Additionally, from September 2020 to May last year, Kim received a total of 6.23 million KRW worth of meals, golf entertainment, gift certificates, cash, and gift sets from Baek and CEO Hwang over 16 occasions as compensation for providing investigation secrets and other information.

The prosecution also found that Kim and Baek illegally exchanged personal information such as CEO Hwang's travel ban status and internal placement charts of the cooperation department, applying charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act.

The prosecution, having sequentially detained and indicted Baek, Kim, and CEO Hwang, plans to summon Chairman Heo again as a suspect on the 1st of next month to verify his involvement. Chairman Heo had refused to appear for three previous summonses by the prosecution but appeared on the 25th; however, he left after about an hour citing health reasons.