Did Seoul’s Court Just Let a Chaebol Leader Off the Hook?
Picture this: a family who once wowed the world with their airline empire now stuck in a rage‑filled scandal. The Seoul Central District Court, for once, sided with the public and tossed a fresh arrest warrant—no, really—out the window for Lee Myung Hee, the matriarch of Korean Air’s legendary Kim‑led dynasty.
Why Lee’s Release Created a Storm
- It’s a “rare good news” for her family—they’ve suddenly become the subject of nationwide fury.
- She is already a walking hot‑potato, having faced multiple assault allegations from drivers to housekeepers, plus serious accusations from construction crew.
- The court held back alcohol‑drunk “plaintiffs” in a national sense of “no flight risk” and mere disputable charges.
Chief Scare‑Quotes that Set the World Ablaze
Things spiraled when Lee’s two daughters dropped the “nut rage” (accidentally bagging macadamia nuts) and “water rage” (throwing drinks at managers). Their father, Cho Yang Ho, tried to do a class‑act public apology and even demoted them. That only strengthened the ground for an avalanche of investigations into alleged worker mistreatment, smuggling, and immigration violations.
Insistent Infiltration: The 15‑Hour Tax Probe
Cho Hyun Ah, a name that grabbed headlines in 2014 after she morning‑breaks a cabin‑crew chief for a nut fiasco, now survived a brain‑crunching 15‑hour interrogation by tax‑officials. Why? Because authorities suspect she used Korean Air flights like a smuggler’s train to ferry luxury goods across borders. Apropos, she served a short prison sentence for her nut‑incident.
The Ongoing Urde
Lee, a 69‑year‑old matriarch, allegedly tossed a pair of scissors (yes, actual scissors!) at a construction crew member after a personal staff fiasco. A video last month caught her shoving a female worker, possibly shaking a real construction site into distress.
Public Reaction to the Court Decision
- “If Lee curses at you, judge, and literally throws scissor blades in your face, should we still put her behind bars?”—a post that’ve spurred 1,000+ likes.
- Blue House website flooding with fury, with one user shouting: “The court is a chaebol puppet!”
- Natural‑disaster coalition of disgruntled travelers, airline staff, and angry corners of the net rallying for accountability.
The Bottom Line to Our Readers
In a nutshell: the Korean Air “family” might have taken an abundance of power and privilege, but the court refuses to ignore a turnover of abuse—producing a strong echo of justice. TV’s next episode will definitely be “Keep calm and carry on.”
