Prosecution Questions CEO Koo Youngbae as Suspect in 'Unpaid Severance Pay' Case

Central District Prosecutors' Office Summons Koo Youngbae for Questioning
Investigation Continues into Unpaid Wages and Severance Pay at TMON and Wemakeprice

Yonhap News Agency

The prosecution, which is investigating TMON and Wemakeprice for unpaid wages and severance pay, summoned Koo Youngbae, CEO of Qoo10, for questioning on June 16.

According to the legal community, the Public Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Kim Taehun) called in CEO Koo as a suspect for questioning that morning. The prosecution has been continuing its investigation after receiving the case of unpaid wages and severance pay at TMON and Wemakeprice from the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office. Recently, Ryu Gwangjin, CEO of TMON, and Ryu Hwahun, CEO of Wemakeprice, were also questioned by the prosecution in relation to this matter.

In December of last year, at the request of the Labor Office, the prosecution applied for an arrest warrant for CEO Koo, who acquired TMON and Wemakeprice, on charges of failing to pay approximately 20 billion won in wages and severance pay to employees and executives of TMON and Wemakeprice. However, the court rejected the request.

Separately, CEO Koo, along with CEOs Ryu Gwangjin and Ryu Hwahun, was indicted in December of last year and is currently on trial on charges of fraud for allegedly embezzling settlement payments to TMON and Wemakeprice sellers amounting to approximately 1.85 trillion won, as well as embezzling around 100 billion won in the form of loans or consulting fees from TMON, Wemakeprice, and other affiliates.