On the 13th, seven long-term care and nursing startups, including Unimeo, Code Blossom, Korea Job and Job, Care Nation, Caring, Forerunts, and Korea Senior Research Institute, issued a joint statement to create a fair competitive environment in the industry.
This is interpreted as a measure to prevent recurrence, following the Supreme Court's dismissal of an appeal regarding Care Doc CEO Park Jae-byeong being indicted for defamation and obstruction of business on charges of disseminating false information about some competitors with overlapping business models during the investment attraction process.
Last May, CEO Park disseminated false information, claiming that his competing firm Care Nation had failed multiple times in app commercialization, wasting initial investment of 2 billion won to emphasize the investment value of Care Doc during the investment attraction process, leading to charges of violating laws related to promoting usage of information and communication networks and information protection (defamation) and obstruction of business.
Care Nation plans to seek damages for the business losses caused by CEO Park's illegal actions.
In the joint statement, the seven companies emphasized three points: ▲immediate cessation of disparagement of other companies and dissemination of false information ▲practicing fair competition and ethical management ▲efforts to comply with laws and restore trust.
Moreover, they appealed that, as the long-term care and nursing industry directly relates to the health and welfare of the public, a healthy market environment must be created based on mutual respect among corporations.