SPC CEO Hwang Jaebok Appears for Warrant Hearing on Allegations of Forcing Withdrawal from Minjunochong

Hwang Jae-bok, CEO of SPC, who is accused of forcing Paris Baguette bakery workers to withdraw from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is at a crossroads regarding detention.

SPC Group. [Image source=Yonhap News]

At 10:30 a.m. on the same day, Shin Young-hee, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will conduct a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) for Hwang, who is accused of violating the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and bribery.

Hwang, who appeared at the court for the detention hearing, headed to the courtroom without responding to reporters' questions such as "Do you admit to the charge of urging union withdrawal?" and "Is it true that you made them release interviews or statements aligned with the company's position?"

Earlier, the Public Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Im Sam-bin) filed a pre-arrest warrant request for Hwang on the 27th of last month.

Hwang is accused of urging members of the KCTU's Hwaseom Food Union Paris Baguette branch, who were employees of PB Partners, a subsidiary of SPC Group, to withdraw from the union between July 2019 and July 2022, disadvantaging them in promotions, and supporting the recruitment of members for the Korea Federation of Trade Unions (KFTU) Food Industry Union PB Partners labor union, which is favorable to management.

He is also accused of unfair labor practices, such as making the union chairman release interviews or statements that align with the management's position.

Additionally, from September 2020 to around May last year, he is accused of receiving various investigation information, including the fact of a search warrant request and internal review reports, from a prosecution investigator and providing several million won worth of entertainment in return.

Hwang's detention decision is expected to be made as early as this afternoon.

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