By Kim Rahn
Like father, like son — an ex-merchandiser at a home-shopping company and his father, an official of a health authority, are under investigation for alleged bribe taking from food manufacturers.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Tuesday its investigators recently arrested the former merchandiser of a home-shopping channel, surnamed Jeon, on charges of receiving kickbacks from food production companies — on top of regular advertizing charges — in return for prioritizing their products.
It is the first prosecution investigation into a home shopping merchandiser, who usually wields power in planning products to sell, picking up relevant makers, and deciding on when to broadcast the products.
Jeon is suspected of allowing seven food making firms to advertise their products on the television channel during prime time spots since 2008. In return, he allegedly received 420 million won.
He quit the job in July after the prosecution launched the probe. Prosecutors raided Jeon’s home earlier this month and summoned officials of the food makers, obtaining testimony that they gave money to him.
The prosecution is looking into whether other merchandisers were involved and whether Jeon offered part of the kickbacks to his supervisors.
While examining bank accounts of Jeon, prosecutors found suspicious money flows into accounts belonging to his father, a high-ranking official at the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).
They raided the senior Jeon’s office and home, and he was recently dismissed from his post. Prosecutors are looking into whether the son used his father’s name to get the kickbacks or if the father himself received bribes.
In a related investigation, heads of five food companies in Seoul and nearby metropolitan cities filed a complaint against the senior Jeon recently, saying he had made them offer money or golf trips in exchange for helping them avoid crackdowns on food makers’ irregularities.
They claimed when the KFDA investigated the home shopping company’s exaggerated ads allegations in programs years ago, the father forced the company to hire his son in return for hushing up the allegation. They also said the father recommended specific food companies and the son broadcast their products in return for cash.