‘Allegations of Forcing Withdrawal from Minju No Chong’ Heo Young-in SPC Chairman Again Refuses to Appear Before Prosecution

"Hospitalized for health reasons, investigation difficult"… Prosecution considers forced summons
Refused to appear three times… Complained of chest pain during first investigation, ended after 1 hour

Huh Young-in, chairman of SPC Group, who is suspected of urging Paris Baguette bakery workers under the National Democratic Labor Union (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, KCTU) to leave the union and instructing to impose disadvantages, has once again refused the prosecution's summons.

Chairman Hyungin Heo of SPC Group. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, Chairman Huh ignored three summonses from the prosecution, but appeared on the afternoon of the 25th of last month and left after an hour, complaining of chest pain. As Chairman Huh continues to show an uncooperative attitude toward the investigation, the prosecution is expected to review his reasons for absence and proceed with measures such as compulsory summons.

According to the legal community on the 1st, the Public Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Im Sam-bin) attempted to summon Chairman Huh in the morning for questioning as a suspect on charges of violating the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, but the summons failed as he did not appear.

Chairman Huh's side reportedly stated that "due to health reasons, he is hospitalized and it is difficult to attend the investigation."

The prosecution is investigating allegations that from July 2019 to August 2022, PB Partners, a subsidiary of SPC, urged members of the KCTU-affiliated Hwaseom Food Union Paris Baguette branch to leave the union and imposed disadvantages in promotion personnel matters.

They also suspect unfair labor practices such as supporting the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, FKTU) Food Industry Union PB Partners labor union, which is favorable to management, in securing union members, and having the union chairman A give interviews or statements aligned with management's position.

During the investigation of related parties including Hwang Jae-bok, CEO of SPC (indicted in custody), the prosecution reportedly secured statements indicating that Chairman Huh ordered unfair labor practices.

Besides the unfair labor practice allegations, the prosecution plans to verify whether Chairman Huh was aware of and tolerated SPC Executive Director Baek (indicted in custody) receiving various investigation information such as the request for a search warrant and internal review reports from a prosecutor investigator, and providing several million won worth of entertainment in return.

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