Prosecution Appeals Suspended Sentence Verdict for Employee Assault by Lee Myung-hee

Lee Myung-hee, the wife of the late Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group, who is accused of habitual assault and verbal abuse against employees, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after the first trial sentencing hearing on the 14th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The prosecution has appealed the first trial verdict concerning Lee Myung-hee, the late Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group, who was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation for habitual assault on employees.

According to the court on the 20th, the prosecution submitted an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-3 (Presiding Judges Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee, Lim Jeong-yeop). Previously, Lee was indicted on charges of verbally abusing and physically assaulting nine employees, including drivers and household staff, a total of 22 times between 2011 and 2018, causing injuries.

At the first trial sentencing hearing held on the 14th, the court found most of Lee's charges guilty and sentenced her to two years in prison with a three-year probation and 80 hours of community service. The prosecution had originally sought a sentence of two years and six months in prison for Lee.

The court stated at the time, "Lee holds the status of the spouse of a large corporation chairman, while the victims were in positions such as drivers or household managers, forced to endure Lee's unfair behavior," but also considered that "Lee acknowledged responsibility and reached agreements with all victims, who do not wish for her punishment; the crimes were committed in moments of sudden anger rather than being premeditated; and the injuries were not severe."

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