Mr. Pizza CEO under fire for assaulting security guard
MPK Group Chairman Jung Woo-hyun
By Bahk Eun-ji
MPK Group Chairman Jung Woo-hyun, who owns the nation’s largest pizza chain Mr. Pizza, allegedly assaulted a security guard at a building in Seoul where one of his restaurants is located.
The tycoon, 68, punched the security guard in the face twice on Saturday night after learning that the guard had locked the front door through which Jung wanted to leave the building, according to police.
The assault took place at around 10:30 p.m., shortly after Jung dined at the restaurant, and a closed circuit television recorded the incident, they said.
Police will soon summon Jung for questioning and, if deemed necessary, seek an arrest warrant against him.
A MPK spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Jung is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol, but police refused to give more information. They said the front door was supposed to be locked at 10 p.m. and the security guard was doing his job properly.
Jung is the latest in a series of business leaders caught recently abusing ― physically or mentally ― people of lower social status.
Daelim Industrial vice chairman Lee Hae-wook is under investigation by police and the labor ministry for allegations that he physically and verbally abused his drivers for years.
In December, Kim Man-sik, honorary president of Monggo Foods, was accused of habitual verbal and physical violence against his drivers.