Cha Moonseon Shuts Down Brand's YouTube Channel
Speculation Grows Over Link to Jeju Air Disaster
AK Holdings, Largest Shareholder of Jeju Air, Faces Boycott Calls
Talitha Koum, CEO Chae Moonseon, the third-generation owner of Aekyung Group. YouTube channel 'Talitha Koum'.
It has been revealed that Cha Moonseon, the third-generation owner of Aekyung Group and CEO of Talithakum, has shut down the brand's official YouTube channel.
The YouTube channel 'Talitha Koum Talithakum', operated by CEO Cha for the vegan beauty brand 'Talithakum', was confirmed to have been deleted around December 31 of last year. CEO Cha had launched the channel in September of the previous year, actively producing content under 'Cha Moonseon's Dalida Dream'. However, the sudden closure has led some to speculate that the channel was deleted due to the aftermath of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster. AK Holdings, the holding company of Aekyung Group, is the largest shareholder of Jeju Air, holding a 50.37% stake. Currently, as accountability for the disaster is being discussed, there are even signs of a boycott against the group.
Previously, on December 29, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, attempted a belly landing (a landing in which the aircraft slides on its fuselage with the landing gear not deployed) on the runway at Muan Airport. However, within about 10 seconds, the aircraft veered approximately 300 meters off the runway and collided with a concrete wall, resulting in a loud explosion as the plane broke in half and most of the fuselage was engulfed in flames. There were a total of 181 people on board, including 175 passengers and 6 crew members. According to the National Fire Agency, 179 people were confirmed dead, and 2 were rescued. As a result, the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster remains the aviation accident with the highest number of casualties in South Korea.
Kim Ibae (left), CEO of Jeju Air, and Choi Hyungseok, Vice Chairman of Aekyung, bowed their heads in apology while visiting the family waiting room on the 2nd floor of Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do on the 29th of last month. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
On the day of the disaster, Kim Ibae, CEO of Jeju Air, Choi Hyungseok, Vice Chairman of Aekyung Group, Ko Jun, CEO of AK Holdings, and other executives from Jeju Air and Aekyung Group appeared at Muan Airport around 8 p.m. to offer their condolences. However, the bereaved families reacted angrily, saying that the executives arrived at the scene far too late. Park Hanshin, who served as the temporary representative of the bereaved families, criticized, "We have been looking for Jeju Air officials for a while, but no one showed up," and added, "In a country where you can reach anywhere in three to four hours, what are they doing showing up only after 11 hours?" He continued, "They should have arrived earlier and at least shown sincere contrition. I can't understand this. Would they have been so slow if their own family members had been among the victims?"
Around the same time, Aekyung Group Chairwoman Jang Youngshin also issued a public apology on behalf of the group regarding the disaster. She stated, "With a heavy heart, I offer my condolences and deepest sympathies to those who lost their lives in this accident, and I apologize to the bereaved families and to all the people of the nation who are sharing in this shock and pain." She added, "I deeply empathize with the grief and suffering experienced by so many due to this tragic loss of precious lives, and I accept the responsibility with utmost gravity. We will do everything we can, not only through Jeju Air but at the group level, to respond quickly to the accident and provide all necessary support. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and ensure that appropriate measures are taken." She further pledged, "We will actively cooperate with the authorities' investigation and support efforts, listen to the voices of the victims' families, and provide all necessary assistance. Once again, I bow my head in deep apology to the deceased, the bereaved families, and the people of the nation."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
