This article was published on the ChosunBiz RM Report website at 1:27 p.m. on Apr. 29, 2026.
Chief Executive Hong Beom-jun of Truebook Sinsago Co. was recently referred to prosecutors in three cases, including on suspicion of unfair labor practices against employees.
According to the legal community on the 29th, the Seoul Southern District Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) referred the case to prosecutors the previous day on suspicion that Hong continued unfair labor practices by failing to comply with a Labor Relations Commission remedy order.
It came four days after the referral on the 24th on suspicion of failing to comply with the remedy order. The southern labor office issued two corrective orders but determined they were not fully carried out.
The case stems from performance evaluations of company union members. Hong is suspected of freezing salaries by giving the lowest ratings (CC, DD) to seven of nine union members in 2024. The Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission in August last year issued a remedy order, saying, "It is an unfair labor practice to disadvantage employees for joining or engaging in union activities," and ordered a new round of evaluations.
However, Truebook Sinsago Co. was found to have introduced new criteria for a "special performance evaluation" during the reevaluation process and again assigned the lowest ratings to all those subject to it.
In its decision in January, the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission determined that "in the 2024 (special) performance evaluation that was redone, assigning the lowest ratings to employees and setting the salary increase rate at 0% constitutes discriminatory treatment and an unfair labor practice."
Based on the commission's determination, the southern labor office launched an investigation after identifying the offense and referred the related case to prosecutors. Unfair labor practices can be punished by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won. Failure to comply with a Labor Relations Commission remedy order carries a heavier penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.
Separately, the southern labor office on the 27th of last month also referred to prosecutors, with a recommendation to indict, the act by Hong of not recognizing the use of annual leave by employees who appeared as witnesses or reference persons in connection with his case.
The company notified employees that "court appearances for cases directly accusing the company's CEO are not eligible for annual leave," but the southern labor office determined that this contravened the work rules.
Article 30 of the company's work rules provides for special paid leave for "the time necessary to appear before the police or a court as a witness or reference person."
All cases related to Hong are being handled by Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.
Truebook Sinsago Co., founded in 1990, is an education publisher known for "SSEN Math" and "Woongongbi." In January this year, Hong drew attention by saying he would donate 10 billion won annually for 10 years, totaling 100 billion won, to his alma mater, Seoul National University. But within four months, the labor case was sent to prosecutors for review.