By Lee Kyung-min
A curator, who helped Chun Jae-kook, the son of former president Chun Doo-hwan, purchase a high-end art collection, has filed a damages suit against the eldest scion of the former military strongman, a district court said Tuesday.
According to Seoul Central District Court, the curator surnamed Jeon is seeking 100 million won ($98,000) in compensation for financial damages and emotional distress after complying with Chun’s request to go to the U.S. to evade prosecution questioning in July 2013.
The Chun family was under investigations over allegations that they were indefinitely postponing tax payments by refusing to forfeit illegal financial gains and creating an overseas slush fund.
The case’s first mediation hearing was held in May; the second is scheduled for Aug. 19.
During the first hearing, Jeon claimed that he had no choice but to leave the country at the request of Chun who gave him 30 million won in July 2013 and asked to stay in the United States for five months until a tax investigation into the family was concluded.
He said that he is suing because Chun ignored his demand for financial compensation.
Jeon also claimed that he and his family suffered emotional distress after being subject to criticism from the public after media referred to him as a “slush fund manager” which has negatively affected his career.
Jeon became acquainted with Chun in 1992 while working as an art director at a gallery in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, owned by the Chun family. Since then he has reportedly advised the family regarding property and artwork purchases.