Police raid Korean Air's head office in probe into group chief's daughter

By Lim Chang-won Posted : April 19, 2018, 11:39 Updated : April 19, 2018, 11:39

[Courtesy of Korean Air]


SEOUL -- Police launched a raid into Korean Air's head office Thursday in a probe into allegations that the youngest daughter of Hanjin Group patriarch Cho Yang-ho threw water at a business meeting with advertising agency officials.

The move came a day after investigators raided an advertising company and seized smartphone text messages and recordings. Cho Hyun-min, a Korean Air senior executive, was not allowed to go abroad pending an investigation that followed news reports that she screamed and threw water at her office on March 16.

The 35-year-old who uses her English name, Cho Emily Lee, allegedly lost her temper because the advertising official did not properly answer her questions. Korean Air insisted she threw a cup of water onto the floor, not toward the face. Emily made a series of apologies for her "foolish and imprudent" behavior.

Public fury has been fanned by additional disclosures about Emily's arrogant behavior and insulting remarks at a number of private and business meetings. She was relieved from her post on Monday.

Transport authorities have launched a probe to see whether Emily, who is an American citizen, illegally served as a board member of Hanjin's low-cost carrier Jin Air for six years from March 2010. Foreigners are not allowed to join a board of directors at flag carriers.

 
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