Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Hanjin Group holds Chairman Cho Yang-ho's funeral service
Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho's funeral service began at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
The body of Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho arrived from Los Angeles on a Korean Air flight early Friday morning and his funeral is being held for five days at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital in western Seoul.
Cho's son, Korean Air President Cho Won-tae, and youngest daughter Cho Hyun-min ― a former vice president of Jin Air ― escorted their father's casket from Incheon International Airport to the funeral service area.
“I have a heavy heart; I was beside him at his deathbed. My family will discuss future matters together,” Cho Won-tae told reporters at the airport.
Asked about the chairman's will, he said his father's last request was to “cooperate with family and handle matters in peace.”
Cho's wife Lee Myung-hee and eldest daughter Cho Hyun-ah flew in earlier this week to organize funeral procedures.
According to Hanjin Group, the chairman's funeral at Severance Hospital will be held for five days starting noon Friday and ending Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
Many believe Cho made a major contribution to Korea's aviation industry, as he has improved the nation's first full-service carrier to be able to compete with the world's best, receiving scores of prestigious global awards.
Cho was also at the forefront of establishing SkyTeam in 2000. At the time it consisted of just four carriers ― Korean Air, Delta Air Lines, Air France and Aero Mexico ― but has since expanded to 19 airlines from five continents.
Despite these achievements, the last days of his career were marred by many scandals, which cost him the Korean Air chairmanship.
At a March meeting, shareholders voted 64.1 percent in favor of his reappointment but fell short of the necessary two-thirds threshold by 2.5 percent because 35.9 percent voted against him.
It was the first time shareholders had voted to strip a founding family member of a Korean conglomerate of a board seat.
After surgery for chronic lung disease, Cho had been treated at a hospital in Los Angeles since December. It is said his condition worsened rapidly due to the extreme stress from a prosecution investigation into the scandals and his axing from the board. He died on Monday.
Due to his death, all criminal allegations against him have been dropped.
Cho faced charges of embezzling more than 27 billion won ($23.7 million) and breach of trust, involving excessive commissions from Korean Air suppliers.