Hanjin owner's daughter denies throwing glass cup at business meeting

By Lim Chang-won Posted : May 2, 2018, 09:18 Updated : May 2, 2018, 13:18

Cho Hyun-min lowers her head, walking through journalists outside a police station in western Seoul on May 2. [Yonhap News Photo]


SEOUL -- The youngest daughter of Hanjin Group patriarch Cho Yang-ho rebutted assault charges Wednesday after she was released from a grueling 15-hour marathon interrogation by police, insisting she threw a glass cup of water into the air.

Cho Hyun-min, a former Korean Air senior executive, was questioned at a police station in western Seoul on charges of assault and obstruction of business. There have been allegations that she threw a glass cup at an advertising agency official and sprayed plum juice at other participants.

The 35-year-old who uses her English name, Cho Emily Lee extended her "sincere" apology but argued that she never hurled a glass cup toward any participants in a business meeting at her office on March 16. "I never threw it at people," she told reporters after police released her at 1:12 am (1612 GMT) Wednesday.

Police quoted Emily as saying she lost her temper because the advertising official did not properly answer her questions. She told investigators that some participants got wet accidentally when she pushed the paper cup to the doorway while seated. 

She allegedly argued she threw the glass cup toward the wall and dismissed accusations that she hindered the advertising company's business because she was chairing the meeting and had authority to cancel it.

She made a series of apologies for her "foolish and imprudent" behavior, but public fury has been fanned by additional disclosures about Emily's arrogant behavior and insulting remarks at a number of private and business meetings.

The case sparked a flurry of investigations by police, customs officials and transport authorities into possible illegal activities by Cho's family. There have been a series of revelations by whistle-blowers about misconducts and illegal acts by the ruling family.

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.  Cho's family was accused of bringing in foreign luxury goods without paying duties through a legitimate loophole at airports. 

The scandal pulled Cho Hyun-ah, the elder sister, back to public attention. She was heavily criticized for her "nut rage" tantrum which took place in December 2014. Hyun-ah became enraged when a flight attendant served her macadamia nuts in a bag, rather than on a plate, on board a flight from New York that was forced back to the gate while taxiing to the runway. 
 
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