Prosecutors Arrest SPC Chairman Hur Young-in, Bakery Union Leader, for Pressuring Withdrawal from KCTU: "Risk of Evidence Tampering"

by Choi Sukjin

Published 05 Apr.2024 02:14(KST)

Heo Young-in, chairman of SPC Group, who is accused of urging bakery workers at Paris Baguette affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) to withdraw from the union and instructing to impose disadvantages, was arrested on the 5th.

On the previous afternoon, Nam Cheon-gyu, the warrant judge in charge at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted the warrant hearing for Chairman Heo and issued an arrest warrant around 2 a.m. on the same day on charges of violating the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, as requested by the prosecution.

Heo Young-in, Chairman of SPC Group. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Judge Nam stated the reason for issuing the warrant was "concern over the destruction of evidence."

Heo is accused of urging members of the KCTU’s Hwasum Food Union Paris Baguette branch to withdraw from the union and imposing disadvantages in promotions from July 2019 to August 2022 at PB Partners, a subsidiary of SPC.

He is also accused of unfair labor practices, including supporting the securing of union members for the Korea Federation of Trade Unions (KFTU)-affiliated Food Industry Workers’ Union PB Partners union, which is favorable to management, and having the union chairman A give interviews or statements aligned with management’s position.

During the investigation of executives including Hwang Jae-bok, CEO of SPC, who was previously indicted and detained, the prosecution reportedly obtained testimony indicating that “when the KCTU Paris Baguette branch held protests in front of Chairman Heo’s residence, Heo ordered the dissolution of the union and was subsequently briefed on the progress.”

The prosecution secured Heo’s custody on the 2nd after obtaining an arrest warrant due to his refusal to appear for summons four times on the 18th, 19th, 21st of last month and the 1st of this month.

On the 25th of last month, the prosecution, which conducted an investigation into unfair labor practices against Chairman Heo, judged there was a risk of evidence destruction and requested an arrest warrant for Heo the day before.

The prosecution reportedly determined that it was necessary to secure Heo’s custody and further investigate additional crimes, considering his continuous refusal to cooperate with the investigation citing health and work reasons.

After securing Heo’s custody, the prosecution plans to investigate whether Heo was involved in the process where SPC Executive Director Baek (indicted and detained) received various investigation information such as the fact of a search warrant request and internal review reports from a prosecution investigator and provided hundreds of thousands of won in entertainment as compensation.