Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun (Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group)
The Democratic Media Practice Committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced on Dec. 26 that it had discovered that several media outlets had deleted articles reporting that Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun’s eldest son caused an accident while driving under severe intoxication. The committee issued a statement stating, “We are deeply disappointed to discover a mass deletion of articles, which is an act of favoring the chaebol group.”
The incident began in the early morning of July 24, 2021, when Chairman Chung’s eldest son, Mr. Chung, crashed into a guardrail while driving an SUV registered under his father’s name with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.164%. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office summarily indicted Mr. Chung on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act, and the Seoul Eastern District Court issued a summary order imposing a fine of 9 million won.
The committee explained, “The case of Chairman Chung Eui-sun’s eldest son causing an accident while driving under severe intoxication and being summarily indicted with a fine of 9 million won was reported in August 2021. The court issued a summary order to Mr. Chung in October of the same year.” Many media outlets reported on this matter, and the committee added, “The news value was sufficient given that this was an accident caused by a chaebol family member who should fulfill social responsibility, particularly the owner’s child who has a high likelihood of participating in future management.”
Regarding the timing of the article deletions, the committee speculated, “An article came out in September reporting that Chairman Chung Eui-sun’s eldest son had joined the Japanese corporation and taken his first step in management training,” adding “It is reasonable to assume that Hyundai Motor Group took action as interest in the eldest son increased and the drunk driving incident from four years ago was being discussed anew.”
The committee urged all media outlets to restore the problematic articles as they were originally approved, and also warned Hyundai Motor Group, saying “Do not try to eliminate normal media coverage just because it is unfavorable to you, and fulfill your social responsibility.”
