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South Korean airline heiress indicted over ‘nut rage’ incident South Korean airline heiress indicted over ‘nut rage’ incident
(about 11 hours later)
TOKYO – The disgraced Korean Air heiress who exploded in a now-notorious fit of “nut rage” was indicted Wednesday on charges of violating South Korea’s aviation safety law after being served macadamias the wrong way. TOKYO — The disgraced Korean Air heiress who exploded in a now-notorious fit of “nut rage” after being served macadamias the wrong way was indicted Wednesday on charges of violating South Korea’s aviation safety law.
Cho Hyun-ah, the former vice president for cabin service at South Korea's biggest airline and the eldest daughter of its chairman, will also stand trial for trying to cover up the incident last month. Cho Hyun-ah, the former vice president for cabin service at South Korea’s biggest airline and the eldest daughter of its chairman, will also stand trial for trying to cover up the incident.
The 40-year-old, sitting in first class on a Seoul-bound plane at New York's JFK airport, erupted in anger when a flight attendant gave her macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of served on a plate, as procedure dictates. She allegedly unleashed a torrent of abusive language at the cabin crew, then ordered the plane to return to the gate and the chief purser off the plane. The 40-year-old, sitting last month in first class on a Seoul-bound plane at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, erupted in anger when a flight attendant gave her macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of serving them on a plate, as procedure dictates. Cho allegedly unleashed a torrent of abusive language at the cabin crew, then ordered the plane to return to the gate and forced the chief purser off the plane.
“This case threatened the safe navigation of an airplane and caused a confusion in legal justice,” Kim Chang-hee, a prosecutor, said at a press conference Wednesday after a month-long investigation. “This case threatened the safe navigation of an airplane and caused a confusion in legal justice,” Kim Chang-hee, a prosecutor, said at a news conference Wednesday, citing an investigation.
Cho was indicted on five charges, including two of violating aviation safety laws by ordering a deviation in the route of the plane and by assaults that interfered with the safe navigation of the plane. The other three are for coercion and obstruction in trying to minimize the incident. Lawyers said the charges could carry as much as 15 years in jail time. Cho was indicted on five counts, including violating aviation safety laws by ordering a deviation in the route of the plane and by assaults that interfered with the safe navigation of the aircraft. The other three charges are for coercion and obstruction in trying to minimize the incident. Lawyers said she faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.
In anticipation of the charges, Cho was detained on December 30 and is being held in a cell with four or five other prisoners, local media reported, a far cry from the life of luxury she is used to leading. Cho was detained Dec. 30 and is being held in a cell with four or five other prisoners, local media reported, a far cry from the life of luxury she is used to leading.
Another Korean Air executive, identified only by his surname Yeo, was indicted for destruction of evidence, coercion and obstruction. Another Korean Air executive, identified only by his surname, Yeo, was charged with destruction of evidence, coercion and obstruction.
“The Korean Air executives have obstructed the government investigation from the beginning by making false statements and forging evidence," Kim said. “The Korean Air executives have obstructed the government investigation from the beginning by making false statements and forging evidence,” Kim said.
The South Korean media has been full of tales alleging the Korean Air tried to hush up the case, and a transport ministry official was also charged for leaking confidential information. The South Korean media has been full of tales alleging that Korean Air tried to hush up the case, and a Transport Ministry official was charged with leaking confidential information.
Even as she has staggered out of courtrooms with her head slumped forward, Cho has become the public face of power gone unchecked. Even as she has staggered out of courtrooms with her head slumped, Cho has become the public face of power gone unchecked.
The family-run chaebol conglomerates, such as Samsung and Hyundai and the group that owns Korean Air, helped turn agrarian South Korea into a global economic power in a few short decades, with a lot of government support.The family-run chaebol conglomerates, such as Samsung and Hyundai and the group that owns Korean Air, helped turn agrarian South Korea into a global economic power in a few short decades, with a lot of government support.
But many Koreans are now bristling at the special treatment they are considered to receive, especially if it seems the chaebol families are above the law. But many Koreans are now bristling at the special treatment these chaebol families are considered to receive, especially if it seems that they are above the law.
"I think a lot of people feel that having a two-tier justice system, with laws strictly applied to the average person but not to people with economic privilege, is very troubling in a democracy," said Hank Morris, a veteran business analyst in Seoul. “I think a lot of people feel that having a two-tier justice system, with laws strictly applied to the average person but not to people with economic privilege, is very troubling in a democracy,” said Hank Morris, a veteran business analyst in Seoul.
Numerous members of the families that control the chaebol have been convicted on serious charges, usually related to financial impropriety, only to be pardoned by the president of the day.Numerous members of the families that control the chaebol have been convicted on serious charges, usually related to financial impropriety, only to be pardoned by the president of the day.
When she assumed the presidency two years ago, Park Geun-hye — daughter of Park Chung-hee, the president who spurred the chaebol-led economic boom in the 1960s and 1970s — vowed to end the practice of exonerating business tycoons.When she assumed the presidency two years ago, Park Geun-hye — daughter of Park Chung-hee, the president who spurred the chaebol-led economic boom in the 1960s and 1970s — vowed to end the practice of exonerating business tycoons.
Then along came Cho Hyun-ah and what has been dubbed locally as her “nut rage”. Then along came Cho and what has been dubbed locally as her “nut rage.”
Cho initially insisted that she was just trying to uphold standards, but as news of her actions spread in South Korean, the public was outraged. She resigned from her position as vice president shortly after the incident became public, and her father, Cho Yang-ho, apologized to the public for not doing a better job in raising his daughter. Cho initially insisted that she was just trying to uphold standards, but as news of her actions spread in South Korea, the public was outraged. She resigned from her position as vice president shortly after the incident became public, and her father, Cho Yang-ho, apologized to the public for not doing a better job in raising his daughter.
In his New Year address on Monday, Cho Yang-ho apologized to the public again for his daughter's behavior and vowed to reform the business culture at the carrier.In his New Year address on Monday, Cho Yang-ho apologized to the public again for his daughter's behavior and vowed to reform the business culture at the carrier.
"I am perfectly willing to accept the public's criticism, admit our mistakes and take meaningful steps to rectify things," Cho said. Hanjin Group, the chaebol conglomerate that owns Korean Air, "will be reborn," he said, according to local reports. “I am perfectly willing to accept the public’s criticism, admit our mistakes and take meaningful steps to rectify things,” he said. Hanjin Group, the chaebol conglomerate that owns Korean Air, “will be reborn,” he said, according to local reports.
Yoonjung Seo in Seoul contributed reporting. Yoonjung Seo in Seoul contributed to this report.