Suspected of Asset Overseas Transfer and Defamation Charges
Chairman Seo's Side: "288 Billion Won Taken for Raising Two Daughters"
Jo Mo (58), the biological mother of an illegitimate child who is accused of extorting 14.3 billion KRW in child support from Seo Jung-jin (67), chairman of Celltrion, has been referred to the prosecution.
On the 12th, Seoul Gangnam Police Station sent Jo to the prosecution on the 8th on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (extortion, property concealment abroad) and defamation by false statements, according to Yonhap News Agency. Seo's side claimed that Jo threatened, saying "If you don't send money, I will come to Incheon (Celltrion headquarters)," and extorted 28.8 billion KRW from Seo from 2012 to last year under the pretext of child support for the illegitimate child. Among this, they filed a police complaint against Jo, stating that "there is clear evidence for the 14.3 billion KRW extorted since 2018."
The fact that Seo has two illegitimate children was revealed in a broadcast report last May. In an interview, Jo claimed to have had conflicts with Seo and asserted that her two daughters had the status to share inheritance property. In response, Seo's side immediately filed a criminal complaint, stating that they had been threatened by Jo and had handed over hundreds of billions of won under the pretext of child support. The police investigating the case judged that Jo's extortion charges were valid and sent her to the prosecution.
The police also applied charges against Jo for illegally transferring the large sum of money received from Seo overseas and for posting banners criticizing Seo near the Celltrion building. Additionally, Jo was charged with attempted extortion under criminal law for demanding a house in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from Seo, which was not accepted.
Seo's two illegitimate children filed a paternity recognition lawsuit against Seo at the Suwon Family Court Seongnam Branch in 2021. Afterward, a settlement was reached, and they were registered as Seo's legal daughters on the family register.
When the illegitimate child controversy arose last May, Seo officially apologized to shareholders through the company website. He posted a statement titled "A Message to Shareholders" on the Celltrion homepage. Seo opened the statement by saying, "I sincerely apologize for causing great concern to our shareholders." He continued, "Although not everything recently reported in the media may be true, my past foolish and reckless actions have caused you irreparable disappointment. I will humbly accept any criticism from you without avoidance." He also requested, "However, I ask that the arrows of criticism for my personal mistakes be aimed solely at me." He earnestly asked shareholders to look upon the company with a generous heart so that the employees would not be subjected to reproach.
Finally, Seo pledged, "I will do my best to fulfill the duties entrusted to me by the shareholders until the end, so that the company's value is not damaged, and I will live the rest of my life with a humble attitude, deeply reflecting on myself." He once again bowed his head in apology, saying, "I sincerely apologize once again to the shareholders who have been troubled by my shameful personal conduct."
At that time, Jo, the biological mother of the two daughters, claimed in an interview with the media that she met Seo, who had a family, in July 2001 and had children in a de facto marital relationship. She also said that the relationship, which lasted for more than ten years, ended in 2012 when Seo's side, facing difficulties in company management, urged her to leave the country. Jo said, "Because the existence of the children could cause the company to collapse if revealed, I was told to keep quiet for a while," and added that Seo did not act as a father to the daughters. In particular, the second daughter reportedly filed a lawsuit requesting visitation rights against Seo, as she had not met him even once in 11 years. Seo's side claims that he tried to take care of the children, but the relationship broke down due to Jo's unfaithfulness. They also denied Jo's continuous demands for large sums of money despite having paid 28.8 billion KRW in child support and filed a complaint with the Seoul Gangnam Police Station.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
