By Jung Min-ho
Choi Heung-jip, former CEO of casino operator Kangwon Land, has been arrested on charges of influence peddling to hire certain people at the request of politicians and local bigwigs.
The Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon Province issued an arrest warrant Thursday night for him, citing the risk of destruction of evidence.
Dozens of suspects who allegedly asked him for favors, including Rep. Yeom Dong-yeol and Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, are soon expected to face questioning by the prosecution.
The court has also issued an arrest warrant for Yeom's 45-year-old secretary, surnamed Park, who allegedly blackmailed a company official who was not cooperating with them.
Among 5,200 people who applied for jobs at the company between 2012 and 2013, only 518 succeeded in getting hired, thanks allegedly to their corrupt ties to powerful people.
Notably, Kweon is suspected of helping his former secretary, surnamed Kim, get a manager-level job for checking water quality at the casino. Even though he was unqualified for the position, which required at least five years of relevant experience, he got it with ease after Choi allegedly ordered officials to hire him ahead of 33 other applicants.
According to a Kangwon Land personnel affairs official, the company had a list of people it "should hire" before other candidates.
Choi refused to answer questions from reporters as he exited the court following the decision.
Prosecutors have also come under criticism for previously concluding their first investigation without properly investigating the former CEO and the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, 23 people who failed to get jobs there during that period have filed a damages suit against Kangwon Land, alleging the company used them to make the process seem fair when it was not.
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a civic group which is helping them, said it was a textbook example of corruption in hiring, which is still prevalent in the country.
Kangwon Land is not the only company embroiled in a cronyism scandal these days.
Over the past few months, prosecutors and police have been looking into many other firms facing similar allegations. Their latest target is Home and Shopping, a local home shopping company.
In an effort to resolve the longstanding issue, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission set up a report center for such crimes last month.
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| Choi Heung-jip |
The Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon Province issued an arrest warrant Thursday night for him, citing the risk of destruction of evidence.
Dozens of suspects who allegedly asked him for favors, including Rep. Yeom Dong-yeol and Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, are soon expected to face questioning by the prosecution.
The court has also issued an arrest warrant for Yeom's 45-year-old secretary, surnamed Park, who allegedly blackmailed a company official who was not cooperating with them.
Among 5,200 people who applied for jobs at the company between 2012 and 2013, only 518 succeeded in getting hired, thanks allegedly to their corrupt ties to powerful people.
Notably, Kweon is suspected of helping his former secretary, surnamed Kim, get a manager-level job for checking water quality at the casino. Even though he was unqualified for the position, which required at least five years of relevant experience, he got it with ease after Choi allegedly ordered officials to hire him ahead of 33 other applicants.
According to a Kangwon Land personnel affairs official, the company had a list of people it "should hire" before other candidates.
Choi refused to answer questions from reporters as he exited the court following the decision.
Prosecutors have also come under criticism for previously concluding their first investigation without properly investigating the former CEO and the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, 23 people who failed to get jobs there during that period have filed a damages suit against Kangwon Land, alleging the company used them to make the process seem fair when it was not.
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a civic group which is helping them, said it was a textbook example of corruption in hiring, which is still prevalent in the country.
Kangwon Land is not the only company embroiled in a cronyism scandal these days.
Over the past few months, prosecutors and police have been looking into many other firms facing similar allegations. Their latest target is Home and Shopping, a local home shopping company.
In an effort to resolve the longstanding issue, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission set up a report center for such crimes last month.
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