“I think he has been punished enough. In the situation that SK Group is now fiercely competing with world leaders in cutting-edge industries, if he (SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won) were released, the group would be transformed drastically. We should give it a chance to transform.”
“SK is desperately competing to go ahead over other competitors in state-of-the-art industries that need creative ideas. Putting him in that situation (prison) is losing a chance to lead the market. This is my earnest request to reconsider his pardon for the future of the group.”
“Giving him a chance to make stunning changes to SK Group, one of the five largest business groups in Korea, will be a good investment for the future. Chairman Chey leads the group and has to make important decisions. I think it is also wrong to only deny pardons for business people.”
- Park Yong-man, chairperson of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (chairman of Doosan Group)
In political circles, there has been a lot of talk related to paroling or pardoning business people with the goal of revitalizing the economy. Chairperson Park’s remarks are the first from a major economic group. (image: KCCI)
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) announced that its chairperson Park Yong-man made a sincere appeal for the pardon of Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, who is currently in prison after being convicted of embezzling his company’s funds.
In political circles, there has been a lot of talk related to paroling or pardoning business people with the goal of revitalizing the economy. Chairperson Park’s remarks are the first from a major economic group.
Park said, “In the past, the KCCI did not make any comments on issues such as the legal process of business people as it is not right to do so, nor did it support any business people facing accusations. If we misrepresent the interests and understandings of business people, common people will look us with suspicious eyes and it can also causes a bad image for good business people.”
However, Park said, “Punishing someone has another meaning, that she or he repents for their wrongdoings and improves her or himself by seeking another chance. In that sense, should he serve until the last day of his punishment? SK Group is doing business in cutting-edge industries whose business situation changes day to day. Chey should take up the decision maker seat as the leader of the group.”
Chey was sentenced to four years of prison for embezzlement and has served almost half of his term to date.
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
