Former Coupang CEO Park Dae-jun was questioned as a reference in connection with allegations that he asked Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Byung-kee to disadvantage a former aide.
Park appeared as a reference at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit in Mapo-gu at about 1:50 p.m. on the 8th and left after finishing questioning at about 5:40 p.m. On site, there were questions such as "Why did you meet with the lawmaker?" and "Do you deny signs of a solicitation?" but Park left without answering.
Park, the former CEO, is suspected of being asked for a personnel disadvantage against the lawmaker's former aide while having a meal with the lawmaker in September last year. The aide is the person who exposed allegations that the lawmaker sought a transfer and job for the lawmaker's child. The aide had been employed at Coupang. The key issue is the allegation that the lawmaker met Park, the former CEO, for private retaliation.
However, the lawmaker's position is that the request for a disadvantageous solicitation is not true. Through social media, the lawmaker said, "There was talk that a 'problem' aide who joined Coupang was trading on my name," and explained, "I asked that the person be prevented from meeting with staff in the floor leader's office going forward or using my name for government relations work."
Police are also currently investigating allegations that Park, the former CEO, treated the lawmaker to an expensive meal.