Ruling and Opposition Parties Urge Punishment for "Wage Thief" Former Chairman Park Youngwoo over Employee Wage Arrears

Bipartisan Lawmakers Unite in Criticism
Park Faces Backlash for Evasion
Parties Agree to Hold Additional Hearing

On October 27, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, who are members of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, unanimously criticized former Daewoo Winia Chairman Park Youngwoo during a parliamentary audit for his insincere response to the ongoing wage arrears crisis affecting employees.

Park Hongbae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "While the victims of wage arrears are withering away, Park and his family have increased their stake in the core company, Daewoo A-Tech, from 23% to a staggering 34%." He added, "In the end, it appears that funneling money into Daewoo A-Tech and withholding workers' wages was part of the original plan."

He continued, "This is not just a labor issue, but a matter of national trust," emphasizing, "Regardless of political affiliation, the National Assembly must mobilize every possible means to punish the wage thief Park Youngwoo and his family." During this process, Park became emotional and was on the verge of tears.

Park Jeong, another Democratic Party lawmaker, remarked, "Park was called in two years ago for wage arrears, yet it seems he still feels no remorse for those who have not been paid." He urged the Ministry of Employment and Labor to "investigate habitual wage arrears by business owners, corporate shell games, and asset concealment, and to set a stern example through strict punishment."

Kwon Gisup, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, is responding during the National Assembly audit on the Central Labor Committee and the Minimum Wage Commission held on the 27th at the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

Kim Wisang, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, pointed out, "At the time of the hearing in January, the amount of unpaid wages was about 70 billion won, but it has now increased to 163 billion won, and not a single won has been settled." He criticized, "All the promises made at the hearing to resolve the issue have turned out to be lies."

Jo Jiyeon, also from the People Power Party, pressed Park for a clear answer on whether he would sell his shares to pay off the unpaid wages. When Park failed to give a direct response, she rebuked him, saying, "Are you incapable of even doing that as chairman? If you have no intention of paying the unpaid wages, just declare it outright."

An Ho-young, chairman of the Climate and Labor Committee and a member of the Democratic Party, warned, "Denying knowledge of unfavorable facts while actively responding only to favorable ones does not demonstrate a sincere attitude toward testifying. Answer each question precisely and clearly as asked."

Later, when Park avoided answering further questions about his plan to pay the overdue wages, citing the potential impact on his second trial, lawmakers from both parties took issue with this and agreed to hold a committee-level hearing on the matter.

However, the specific date for the hearing will be determined later through discussions between the ruling and opposition party secretaries.