Allegations of Unpaid Severance and External Pressure
The special prosecutor team led by Ahn Kwonsub, which is investigating allegations of Coupang covering up an investigation and failing to pay severance, has launched a compulsory investigation into Coupang.
On the morning of December 23, the special prosecutor's team sent prosecutors and investigators to the Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS) office in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to secure documents related to the payment of severance and other benefits. It is reported that Coupang has been named as a suspect in the warrant for violating the Act on the Guarantee of Workers' Retirement Benefits.
Coupang is suspected of amending its employment rules to the disadvantage of workers in May 2023, resulting in the withholding of severance-type payments.
Previously, the Bucheon Branch of the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office referred the case to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment in January, but the Bucheon Branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict in April.
At that time, Moon Jiseok, the chief prosecutor in charge of the case, claimed during a National Assembly audit in October that Eom Heejun, then head of the Bucheon branch, and Kim Donghee, deputy chief prosecutor, pressured him to drop the charges.
Earlier, the special prosecutor's team summoned Chief Prosecutor Moon as a reference witness for questioning on December 11 and 14. After reviewing the secured documents, the team plans to summon Coupang officials to question them about the circumstances and decision-making process behind the changes to the employment rules.
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