Kim & Chang embroiled in Oxy cover-up scandal

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 05:31

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Kim & Chang embroiled in Oxy cover-up scandal

환경단체 "김앤장 가습기살균제 사건 은폐 의혹 밝혀야"

Posted : 2016-05-17 17:01

Updated : 2016-05-17 21:39

A group of victims of toxic humidifier sterilizers and civic activists hold a press conference in front of a Kim & Chang's building in Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Kim Se-jeong

A widening criminal investigation into the toxic humidifier disinfectant made by Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Korea is also zeroing in on the company's legal representative Kim & Chang, for its possible role in the alleged attempt to cover up the scandal.

After the government announced in 2011 that the disinfectant products were blamed for numerous deaths and lung failure, Oxy RB hired the nation's most influential law firm.

Oxy RB also commissioned a scientist to conduct a lab test to refute the government test result showing its product had serious health hazards.

As the lab result was not favorable to the company, it allegedly had the scientist, a Seoul National University professor surnamed Cho, modify the result in exchange for money.

In April, the prosecution found the test results were tampered with and that the law firm used the faked data for out-of-court settlement negotiations with individual victims.

Cho, who was arrested, denied charges against him. Instead, he argued he had notified the harmfulness of the disinfectant to both Oxy RB and Kim & Chang.

The prosecution also secured emails exchanged between Cho and a Kim & Chang lawyer, in which the lawyer demanded Cho conduct the test with conditions that would be favorable to Oxy RB. But Cho's team did not follow the lawyer's request.

Controversy is whether Kim & Chang violated the law.

Some defend the law firm, saying it is natural for a law firm to make claims favorable to its client.

But others said the law firm was wrong if it fabricated the truth. So far, the prosecution doesn't see any legal fault on the law firm.

Disinfectant victims gathered outside the law firm's building in Seoul, Tuesday, demanding the prosecution look into the firm.

Founded in 1973, Kim & Chang is the biggest law firm with a pool of 1,200 licensed lawyers, according to its website. Also, the law firm is known for its extensive pool of former high-profile civil servants and politicians, who would be able to peddle influences on cases that the company is working on, a point of criticism.

Critics of the law firm said the same happened for the humidifier disinfectant case.

Choi Ye-yong, director of the Asia Citizens' Center for Health and Environment, suspected Lee Kyu-yong, former environment minister between 2007 and 2008 who is on the law firm's advisory board, may have peddled his influence on incumbent Minister Yoon Seong-kyu, who used to be his close colleague.

Previously, the firm represented Lone Star, a U.S. private fund, was suspected of influencing Korean authorities to make then financially troubled Korea Exchange Bank available for purchase.

It was against the law for a private fund like Lone Star to purchase a bank in Korea, but suspicion was that Kim & Chang's good network made it an exception.

After the acquisition, Lone Star hired a former Kim & Chang advisor, who later became the bank's vice president.

환경단체 "김앤장 가습기살균제 사건 은폐 의혹 밝혀야"

김앤장 '서울대 교수 실험에 관여한바 없고, 보고서 그대로 검찰에 전달'

가습기살균제 제조사 옥시레킷벤키저의 법률대리인을 맡은 김앤장이 이 문제를 은폐하려 한 의혹이 있다며 환경단체와 가습기살균제 사건 피해자들이 진상규명을 요구하고 나섰다.

    환경보건시민센터 등 환경단체들과 가습기살균제피해자와가족모임(가피모)은 17일 낮 12시 서울 내자동 법률사무소 김앤장 본사 앞에서 기자회견을 열어 이와 같이 주장했다.

    이들은 '김앤장이 서울대와 호서대 연구팀에 상식적이지 않은 실험 설계를 요구하고 가습기살균제에 독성이 있다는 실험결과가 나오자 보고서 작성을 중단시켰다는 의혹이 있다'며 '진실이 감춰진 연구결과를 김앤장이 민사재판 법정에 제출해 재판부가 진실을 파악하기 어렵게 하고 결과적으로 합의를종용하게 만들었다'고 주장했다.

    그러면서 이들은 구속된 서울대 교수가 독성실험 결과를 옥시에서 발표하는 자리에 김앤장이 동석했다고 최근 밝혔으며, 김앤장이 이메일 등으로 서울대 연구팀에 연구 내용과 방향을 주문했다는 점을 의혹의 근거로 들었다.

    이어 옥시가 2011년 말 법인을 주식회사에서 유한회사로 바꿔 가습기살균제를 제조·판매한 법인을 폐기함으로써 법적 책임을 회피했는데, 이 역시 김앤장이 조언한 것으로 의심된다고 주장했다.

    이들은 '김앤장이 옥시의 법률 자문이라는 이름 아래 이러한 행위를 전반적으로 지휘하고 주도적으로 진행한 것이 검찰 조사에서 드러나고 있다'며 '옥시가 김앤장을 고용해 '황사나 꽃가루가 원인일 수 있다' 등 물타기를 자행, 5년의 세월을 끄는 동안 피해자들은 깊은 고통 속에 살았고 일부는 유명을 달리했다'고 김앤장을 비판했다.

    환경단체와 가피모는 김앤장 스스로 국민 앞에 진실을 밝히라고 요구하고 검찰과 변호사협회를 향해서도 법적 의무 위반이나 변호사윤리 위반 부분에 대해 책임을 물으라고 촉구했다.

    이와 관련, 김앤장 측은 '서울대 교수 실험에는 전혀 관여한 바가 없다'며 '조 교수가 작성한 결과 보고서를 전달받아 그대로 검찰과 법원에 제출했을 뿐'이라는 입장을 유지해왔다. (연합뉴스)

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