By Lee Kyung-min
An ongoing investigation into Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-min seems to have hit a major roadblock, Sunday, after the prosecution rejected the police request for an arrest warrant for her over the “water rage” scandal. In the controversial incident, Cho allegedly splashed water into the face of an ad agency official and threw a glass because she was “enraged” by his work performance.
The Seoul Southern Prosecutors' Office said it directed the Seoul Gangseo Police Station to seek an indictment of the second daughter of Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho without physical detention as it remains in dispute whether her act constituted aggravated assault or obstruction of business.
Cho appeared for questioning at the station last week for alleged assault and obstruction of business amid intensified police investigation of the business group, the women “owners” of which have been embroiled in a controversy over “anger management issues.”
Cho's mother, Ilwoo Foundation director Lee Myung-hee, was booked, Sunday, for allegedly assaulting construction workers remodeling her home in Seoul in 2013. The alleged victims said Lee forced them to kneel, slapped them in the face and kicked them in the shins. Investigators plan to summon Lee for questioning shortly.
Cho managed to avoid prosecution for assault following written statements submitted by two alleged victims urging the law enforcement authorities not to punish her. Under the law, the prosecution cannot open an investigation into such a crime against the opinion from alleged victims. While prosecutors can open an investigation into aggravated assault regardless of the opinion of the victims, pressing such a charge is a move “too far off,” given statements from Cho, witnesses and alleged victims were consistent that she did in fact throw a glass but not at a person.
Police must revise their case to argue that Cho obstructed business of the advertizing agency, a charge the prosecution deemed lacked merit. Cho did admit that the meeting was halted after she threw a glass and a paper cup full of a beverage, but said she was within discretion for such acts given her title and authority at the firm, dismissing the fact that she obstructed business.
However, Cho is not likely to avoid punishment for retaining a board of directors post at Jin Air, the group's low-cost carrier, for six years despite her failure to meet due qualification. Cho, a U.S. citizen who identifies herself as Emily Lee Cho, is a foreign national and therefore cannot hold a post on the board of a domestic or international logistics company. Internal investigation is ongoing at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as to why it had failed to disqualify her. The low cost carrier could be subject to suspension or revocation of company license and fines. A similar investigation is ongoing at the Korea Customs Service into allegations that the Cho family used the airline to smuggle luxury goods, furniture and other personal items through bypassing customs clearance protocols.
Cho Yang-ho removed her two daughters from management, a move to limit fallout on the company over the controversy. Cho Hyun-ah and Cho Hyun-min resigned as KAL Hotel president and Korean Air senior executive, respectively, with company-wide efforts underway to overhaul management by strengthening the decision-making structure to prevent similar incidents.