“The court will decide whether I’m responsible for the damage of Samsung washers. However, I am releasing the surveillance video to protect not only my honor of 40 years of washing machine development, but also the company’s reputation.”
“There were many people around the electronics retail shop in Germany, and Samsung workers were looking on right next to us. If I deliberately damaged the washing machine, they would not have just stood by.””
“Once the trust in a certain company is damaged regardless of the truth, it is very hard to regain it. In that sense, I released the video which was already submitted to the prosecutors’ office, and I hope everyone looks at it with keen interest.”
- Jo Seong-jin, president of LG’s home appliances division
Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office recently indicted Jo and two other company executives on charges of vandalizing three Samsung washers at two German shops in September last year. (image: LG Electronics)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – Jo Seong-jin, who kept silent over the controversial “vandalism” of a Samsung washing machine at an exhibition in Germany, broke the silence and released the surveillance video of the incident, five months after it occurred, in a bid to defend his reputation.
In a press statement, Jo explained why he had kept silent on the issue by saying, “I apology for the unnecessary controversy caused by my behavior. I expected that the truth would be unveiled since the accident. All the scenes were recorded by CCTV at the shop, and German prosecutors dropped the case.”
In the Youtube video released along with the statement, Jo touched the washer three times while Samsung workers were looking. He also touched other Samsung appliances including a refrigerator and a dishwasher. LG Electronics stressed, “Touching the machine was Jo’s routine check for a product and his ingrained habit.”
Meanwhile, the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office indicted Jo and two other company executives on charges of vandalizing three Samsung washers at two German shops in September last year.
Samsung has claimed that LG staff members were spotted breaking the doors of Samsung’s washing machines at the Berlin shops, and were reported to the local police by shop clerks. CCTV footage showed the LG employees pressing down on the doors of the machines until they would not close properly, Samsung claimed.
The alleged incident occurred during an international consumer electronics exhibition underway at the time in Berlin.
LG refuted Samsung’s accusations and countersued Samsung for defamation and forging evidence. Since then, the two companies have been lashing out at each other through numerous press releases.
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
