'Victims do not want punishment of Hanwha son'

By Kim Bo-eun

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn’s third son Dong-seon is unlikely to face criminal prosecution for physically assaulting two lawyers, as the victims expressed their wishes for him not to be punished.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday the two lawyers stated they accept Kim’s apology and do not wish for him to be punished, in questioning that took place a day earlier.

Police were set to charge Kim with assault. In September he verbally insulted and slapped lawyers, grabbing one by the hair during a dinner after getting drunk.

At the scene, Kim reportedly told the lawyers to “straighten their backs” to show respect and to address him as “the big shareholder (of the law firm).”

He apologized to the lawyers the next day.

Police are set to continue investigations, based on possibilities of Kim having committed other offenses at the scene.

Officers are seeking witnesses to provide testimony of the details of Kim’s behavior. They are also looking into footage from a surveillance camera outside the bar.

The lawyers belong to Kim & Chang, Korea’s largest law firm of which Hanwha is a client.

The incident was reported Monday by the local daily Maeil Business.

The lawyers said they did not report the incident right away due to concerns of offending Hanwha and losing it as a client.

The Korean Bar Association (KBA) filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Tuesday.

It is also considering filing a civil compensation suit.