Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Korean Air 'nut rage' heiress probed over alleged attacks on husband
Cho Hyun-ah (Heather Cho) / Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Injuries allegedly caused by Cho's violence / Courtesy of Cho's husband
Cho Hyun-ah, 44, the Korean Air heiress who made headlines around the world for the 2014 “nut rage” incident, is being investigated for allegedly attacking her husband during divorce proceedings.
The Suseo Police Station in Seoul said Saturday that investigators started analyzing evidence provided by her husband, surnamed Park, 45, who claims Cho's abusive behavior against him and five-year-old twin sons destroyed their marriage.
In a recently released video, Cho shouts “Die! Die!” at Park, who told investigators his wife repeatedly “strangled him” and threw a tablet PC at him, which seriously injured his toe.
On Feb. 20, Park said he was preparing for a long legal battle.
“I thought it would be better to put up with it, but when my child asked me, 'Dad, would you protect me?,' I was able to get up the nerve (to fight),” he wrote on Facebook.
“I'm afraid of standing up to a chaebol family, but as a father, I will protect my children.”
Cho's lawyers denied the allegations and accused Park of being an alcoholic, which they said was the chief problem in the relationship. Cho said she may sue him for defamation.
Park, a plastic surgeon, met Cho in elementary school. The two married in October 2010 and started living separately in May 2017. They have gone through divorce proceedings since Park filed for divorce in last April.