[Full Disclosure] bhc "Intervention to Kill BBQ, False Information... Legal Action for Defamation"

Mr. Joo First Proposed Consulting and Public Interest Reporting... Only Media Connection, "No Involvement or Financial Support"
Mr. Joo, Who Retracted Statement, "Was Threatened by BBQ to Recant," Recording Secured
Legal Action Underway for Defamation by Mr. Joo for Spreading False Information... Firm Response Planned

Hyunjong Park, Chairman of bhc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] bhc has fully denied allegations that it was involved in the exposure of embezzlement suspicions against BBQ Chairman Yoon Hong-geun, calling the claims untrue.

On the afternoon of the 6th, bhc issued an official statement saying, "The whistleblower Mr. Joo mentioned in reports claiming that bhc’s chairman and employees were involved in 'killing BBQ' first approached the company expressing a desire to expose Chairman Yoon’s corruption and requested a connection to a media outlet," adding, "While it is true that bhc connected Mr. Joo with the media, we never instructed him to fabricate false information nor provided any financial support."

According to bhc, Mr. Joo, who made the whistleblowing, joined BBQ in 2007 and worked in the secretary office, as a resident employee at the U.S. branch, starting as a planning team leader, then serving as CFO and CEO of the U.S. branch. He also acted as the guardian for Chairman Yoon’s children studying in the U.S. before being dismissed in 2016. As bhc was preparing to expand overseas starting with Hong Kong, Mr. Joo, who has extensive U.S. work experience and currently resides in the U.S., contacted bhc first to propose consulting services, leading to a contract. During the consulting discussions initiated by Mr. Joo, he requested a connection to a credible media outlet to expose Chairman Yoon’s corruption, according to bhc. bhc emphasized, "All whistleblowing materials were prepared and submitted directly by Mr. Joo, who cooperated with investigations and provided evidence."

Later, Mr. Joo suddenly reversed his previous public interest whistleblowing statements, changing his position as if bhc had instructed him to submit false information. bhc explained, "Mr. Joo gave contradictory statements in the BBQ testimony and claimed that the embezzlement of Chairman Yoon’s children’s study funds was directed by bhc."

Chairman Yoon Hong-geun of BBQ. [Photo by Yonhap News]

bhc stressed, "According to the recordings we obtained from Mr. Joo, it appears that BBQ attempted to bribe and threaten him to provide favorable testimony in a lawsuit against the media outlet that reported Chairman Yoon’s corruption, making it seem as if bhc manipulated and was involved. This is a clear falsehood, and the claim that Chairman Park handed over cash is also a blatant falsehood." They added, "Listening to the recordings proves that BBQ tried to persuade Mr. Joo to retract his statements."

Currently, bhc is pursuing legal action for defamation against Mr. Joo for spreading false information. bhc also emphasized that the core issue in this case is Mr. Joo’s internal whistleblowing regarding "Chairman Yoon’s embezzlement of company funds for his children’s U.S. study expenses."

bhc stated, "The key point of this case is Mr. Joo’s internal whistleblowing about Chairman Yoon’s embezzlement of company funds for his children’s U.S. education," adding, "We understand the investigation has not been completed due to Mr. Joo’s failure to appear before the prosecution. If Mr. Joo confidently enters Korea, undergoes prosecution investigation, and files a complaint against bhc, not only will the facts be clarified, but the outcome of Chairman Yoon’s embezzlement case will also be revealed." They urged Mr. Joo to return to Korea.

bhc acknowledged, "It is true that BBQ’s former PR agency manipulated comments to disparage bhc, and that BBQ and we have been mutually disparaging each other and engaged in legal battles," but added, "If we fabricated falsehoods, we deserve criticism, but we do not believe it was wrong to assist Mr. Joo after confirming illegalities through numerous materials." They continued, "We do not understand why some of Chairman Yoon’s corruption and embezzlement charges, confirmed by concrete evidence and media reports, were dismissed. We will strongly respond to the unethical company that coerced and threatened the whistleblower to retract statements and to the biased media outlet."

[Full Text]

bhc Chicken will take legal action regarding the report by 00 Daily, and legal proceedings are already underway against Mr. Joo for submitting false information. We provide the accurate facts without falsehood regarding the 00 Daily’s claim that “From bhc’s chairman to employees, all were involved in ‘killing BBQ.’”

● Mr. Joo worked at BBQ’s U.S. branch and acted as guardian for Chairman Yoon Hong-geun’s children

The whistleblower Mr. Joo mentioned by 00 Daily joined BBQ in 2007, working in the secretary office, as a resident employee at the U.S. branch, starting as planning team leader, then serving as CFO and CEO of the U.S. branch, and acted as guardian for Chairman Yoon Hong-geun’s children studying in the U.S. before being dismissed in 2016.

● Mr. Joo approached first regarding U.S. expansion consulting

bhc Chicken, preparing for overseas expansion starting with Hong Kong, was contacted first by Mr. Joo, who has extensive U.S. work experience and currently resides in the U.S., proposing consulting services.

During the consulting discussions initiated by Mr. Joo, he requested a connection to a credible media outlet to expose Chairman Yoon Hong-geun’s corruption at BBQ Chicken. Mr. Joo was invited to Korea for consulting negotiations, and multiple meetings were held for related work, with monthly local reports submitted and a consulting contract signed. However, despite the U.S. trademark application earlier this year, the expansion was indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19, and the contract could not be extended.

● It is true that Mr. Joo, who was complaining about whistleblowing, was introduced to media outlets; all reports and testimonies were made directly by him

bhc Chicken denies any falsehood or financial support

We confirm that we connected Mr. Joo to media outlets for his whistleblowing regarding Chairman Yoon Hong-geun of BBQ Chicken. During the process, Mr. Joo repeatedly expressed his desire to expose unfair and unethical practices he experienced at BBQ Chicken, and we introduced him to a trustworthy broadcaster. However, we never instructed him to fabricate false information nor provided any financial support.

All whistleblowing materials were prepared and submitted directly by Mr. Joo, who cooperated with investigations and provided evidence.

● Mr. Joo reversed his statements under BBQ Chicken’s persuasion and threats, now claiming falsehoods

However, Mr. Joo suddenly reversed his previous public interest whistleblowing statements, changing his position as if bhc had instructed him to submit false information.

The information reported to 00 Daily was also falsely reported by Mr. Joo. In particular, Mr. Joo’s interview with 00 Daily claiming he "received several million won in cash from bhc’s chairman" is completely baseless and defamatory. The 00 Daily article is biased, describing the introduction of the whistleblower to the media as "deep involvement," and there is no reason for us to engage in "killing BBQ" through false reports as the article’s headline suggests.

According to the recordings we obtained from Mr. Joo, it appears that BBQ Chicken attempted to bribe and threaten him to provide favorable testimony in a lawsuit against the media outlet that reported Chairman Yoon Hong-geun’s corruption, making it seem as if we manipulated and were involved. Mr. Joo’s reversal of his statements, denying all the evidence and testimony he previously submitted, is sufficiently proven by the recordings below.

The following are excerpts from Mr. Joo’s recordings indicating BBQ Chicken’s persuasion and threats:

“From my side, there is no way the $40 million claim BBQ Chicken made against me is valid, so I think they want to fight with OOO (media outlet) to restore my honor and receive financial compensation. The problem is they hired a private detective and started harassing me, my wife, and people around us who are financially connected to me, threatening lawsuits. This has been going on for over two months... So regardless of whether this lawsuit proceeds to the end, I have been mentally distressed due to complaints from people around me.”

“When BBQ proposed settlement negotiations, I agreed to help if it would assist OOO (media outlet) in their lawsuit. Although not a full settlement, I partially cooperated with the lawsuit and was asked to retract statements to help Chairman Yoon’s criminal cases in Korea be dropped.”

● Strong response to false claims by veteran broadcaster Mr. A

According to an interview with veteran broadcaster Mr. A introduced by 00 Daily, it was claimed that we "threatened to expose BBQ Chicken’s corruption through Mr. A." Mr. A, former head of public broadcasting Hong OO and then Washington bureau chief, made statements completely contrary to facts. According to Mr. Joo, during interviews with the media exposing corruption, Mr. A reportedly received large cash allowances of $10,000 from Chairman Yoon Hong-geun during U.S. business trips. Such a person’s interview cannot be trusted, and we have never threatened Mr. A to negotiate disclosure of BBQ Yoon Hong-geun’s corruption.

● Legal action underway for defamation against Mr. Joo for spreading falsehoods

bhc is currently pursuing legal action for defamation against Mr. Joo for spreading false information. In October 2019, Mr. Joo suddenly reversed his position 180 degrees, giving testimony to BBQ that contradicted his whistleblowing and claiming that the embezzlement of Chairman Yoon’s children’s study funds was directed by bhc. This is completely unfounded, and legal action for defamation is underway.

It is true that BBQ’s agency manipulated comments to disparage bhc, and that BBQ Chicken and we have continuously disparaged each other and engaged in legal battles. However, bhc Chicken does not spread or coerce falsehoods.

If we fabricated falsehoods, we believe we deserve strong criticism. However, we do not think it was wrong to assist Mr. Joo, who was asserting his innocence after confirming illegalities through numerous materials. We do not understand why some of the confirmed illegalities, including corruption and embezzlement by BBQ Chicken Chairman Yoon Hong-geun, were dismissed. We will respond more strongly to unethical companies that coerce and threaten whistleblowers to retract statements to evade judicial scrutiny.

We will also take strong legal action against 00 Daily for biased reporting on Mr. Joo’s unilateral false claims.

Finally, the core of this case is Mr. Joo’s internal whistleblowing regarding "BBQ Chicken Chairman Yoon Hong-geun’s embezzlement of company funds for his children’s U.S. study expenses." We understand the investigation remains ongoing due to Mr. Joo’s failure to appear before the prosecution. If the 00 Daily report is true, Mr. Joo should confidently enter Korea, undergo prosecution investigation, and file a complaint against bhc. This will clarify the facts and reveal the outcome of the "BBQ Chicken Chairman Yoon Hong-geun’s embezzlement of company funds for his children’s U.S. study expenses" case. We question why Mr. Joo, the central figure in this case, reversed his statements under BBQ Chicken’s persuasion and threats and refuses to enter Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.