Major biotech firm boss apologizes for insulting driver

By 임장원 Posted : July 14, 2017, 15:26 Updated : July 14, 2017, 15:26

[Yonhap News Photo]


A prominent businessman who heads one of South Korea's top biotech firms
put himself onto the stage of public censure and apologized for abusing his driver verbally.

"I ask forgiveness from those hurt by my behavior," Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. chairman Rhee Jang-han told reporters. "I should be blamed for all the consequences," he said, adding he would have time for "sincere introspection and self-reflection".

The apology came amid widespread public anger at insults hurled by Rhee at his driver that was contained in a taped conversion published by a media outlet on Thursday.

Chong Kun Dang is a major pharmaceutical group which produces prescription drugs and biotech products. Rhee serves as a vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, an influential conglomerate lobby group.

Rhee's apology followed a slew of incidents involving group owners and their offsprings. Misconduct by South Korea's rich elites has often made headlines. Some have received heavy jail terms, only for them to be pardoned or released on parole on grounds that they were deemed too important to the country's economy to be kept behind bars.

Public anger surged after a "nut rage" incident involving Korean Air vice president Cho Hyun-ah in December 2014. She was arrested and given a twelve-month prison sentence on conviction of violating aviation safety laws, but she was released after serving five months in jail.

The founder of Monggo Foods, a major producer of soy sauce, once became the subject of public censure for habitually abusing his driver verbally and physically. This year, Choi Ho-sig resigned as chairman of a leading fried chicken franchises after he was accused of molesting a female employee.

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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