Korean Air heiress questioned over 'water rage'
Cho Hyun-min, a former senior executive of Korean Air, appears at the Seoul Gangseo Police Station, Tuesday, for questioning over allegations of assault and obstruction of business. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Kang Seung-woo
One of two notorious heiresses of the chairman of Korean Air reported to police Tuesday for questioning about an alleged assault she committed during a violent temper tantrum.
Cho Hyun-min, a former senior executive of the nation's largest airline, is embroiled in allegations that she threw water in the face of an advertising agency executive during a business meeting in March. She has been booked and banned from overseas travel since last month.
The 35-year-old was questioned on charges of assault and obstruction of business.
She is the youngest daughter of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho and a younger sister of Cho Hyun-ah, infamous for her 2014 “nut rage” episode that delayed an international flight over a packet of macadamia nuts.
“I am truly sorry for causing trouble,” Cho said in her appearance at Seoul Gangseo Police Station. Cho was accompanied by lawyer Park Eun-jae of local law firm Yulchon.
During questioning, police closely grilled her about various allegations by witnesses that had inconsistencies in terms of details.
Some told police that Cho threw a paper cup full of juice at the ad firm executive, while others said she pushed it toward him over the table. Others claimed that she threw a glass at the executive, which could make the assault charge more serious. During the questioning, Cho claimed she did throw a glass but not at the person involved.
Last month, the police searched the headquarters of Korean Air and impounded two smartphones used by Cho and two smartphones that belong to two other Korean Air executives who were present at the meeting.
In the wake of the youngest daughter's scandal, a series of allegations claiming the family members of Korean Air have abused their power with subordinates has emerged. A barrage of questions was asked of Cho as she appeared Tuesday.
However, the emotional heiress just kept saying, “I am sorry,” without replying to them.
In a bid to appease a growing public outcry for the repeated immature actions by his daughters, the airline chairman decided to remove the two sisters from their posts, April 22
The measure has yet to turn out to be successful as fresh allegations surrounding his wife's physical and verbal violence toward employees have been surfacing.
“Currently, Cho is a suspect in the cases of assault and obstruction of business,” Lee Ju-min, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told reporters, Monday.
However, he added more investigations are required to find whether she can be prosecuted with aggravated assault by throwing a glass at the ad agency executive.
Meanwhile, the police have also begun a preliminary investigation into allegations that Cho's mother, Lee Myung-hee, director of the Ilwoo Foundation, assaulted construction workers remodeling her home in Seoul in 2013.
Also, there are allegations by some former and current employees that the family members have smuggled luxury goods through bypassing mandatory customs clearance procedures.
Last month, the Korea Custom Service (KCS) searched the firm's headquarters.
“We will thoroughly investigate the case, and if there are problems, we will punish them,” Kim Young-moo, the chief of the KCS, told reporters, Monday.
Smuggling is an offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fines up to 10 times the duties evaded.