Gyeonggi newspaper

As the damage from charter fraud, which started in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, spreads as a social problem, financial institutions such as banks and credit card companies are coming out one after another to support the damage. As the number of participating financial institutions continues to increase, the scale of support is expected to further increase.

According to the financial sector on the 23rd, the four major commercial banks (Shinhan, KB Kookmin, Hana, and Woori) announced a win-win financial support plan that provides special loans and reduces interest for victims of charter fraud.

Woori Bank, which first announced its support measures, will provide a total of 530 billion won in emergency loans to affected households. To ease the burden, the interest rate is reduced by 2%p for the first year, and the lowest interest rate for each product is applied thereafter.

KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank provide emergency loans such as jeonse, purchase funds, and meridian loans, and reduce interest rates by up to 2%p for 1 to 2 years. Hana Bank completely exempts interest for the first year, as well as guarantee fees, stamp duty, bond discount fees, and early redemption cancellation fees.

Banks also presented non-financial support plans such as legal support and loan counseling. Shinhan Bank, along with the Korea Legal Aid Corporation, supports victims in litigation, appointment of lawyers, and other legal counseling. Woori Bank installs a mobile store near the Jeonse Damage Support Center in Incheon to provide loan counseling staff and safety confirmation services for real estate rights. Hana Bank also organizes a loan counseling support group in its head office to help victims with loan counseling.

The credit card industry also rolled up its arms to support the victims. According to the Credit Finance Association, nine credit card companies in Korea (Shinhan, Samsung, KB Kookmin, Hyundai, Lotte, Woori, Hana, BC, and NH Nonghyup) offer deferment (up to six months) of credit card payments for victims of charter fraud.

Some credit card companies provide additional support such as amortization after the end of the grace period, exemption or reduction of overdue fees, deferred collection of overdue amounts (up to 6 months), and discounts on short- and long-term card loan interest rates.

In order to apply for financial support, the fact of damage must be confirmed through a damage confirmation certificate issued by the Jeonse Damage Support Center. Even if you are eligible for support, the availability and conditions of support may differ for each card company.

On the other hand, on the 21st, the Financial Supervisory Service established a large-scale task force (TF) consisting of three teams, including the general and external affairs team, the auction suspension team inspection team, and the comprehensive financial support center operation team, centered on Lee Jun-su, vice president of banks and small and medium-sized working people. The TF plans to share information related to support for victims of charter fraud with related ministries in real time, and strengthen guidance by linking support programs implemented by related ministries such as the Financial Services Commission and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at the Comprehensive Financial Support Center.

[ 경기신문 = 고현솔 기자 ]

While bhc chicken has risen to No. 1 in the industry and settled down on the chicken throne, controversy surrounding bhc group chairman Park Hyeon-jong and old disputes with BBQ remain a headache.

According to the industry on the 19th, sales of bhc chicken last year were 507.5 billion won on an individual basis, surpassing Kyochon Chicken (498.9 billion won), which maintained the No. 1 spot in the industry.

bhc chicken has steadily grown at an average annual rate of more than 20%, reaching 300 billion won in sales in 2019, 400 billion won in 2020, and exceeding 500 billion won in 2022.

As such, bhc chicken has risen to No. 1 in the industry and is considered a chicken powerhouse, but it seems to be suffering from numerous tasks that have not yet been resolved.

The conflict between bhc chicken and BBQ that started in 2013 continues to appeal and the never-ending chicken war continues.

Previously, bhc was a subsidiary of BBQ, acquired and operated by BBQ in 2004. Later, in 2013, when BBQ sold bhc to CVCI, an American private equity fund, to raise funds for overseas expansion, CVCI refused to pay the balance of 10 billion won, arguing that BBQ had inflated the number of bhc stores and sold the contract.

BBQ believed that bhc chairman Park Hyeon-jong, who led the sale as a representative of BBQ’s global business, was responsible for the damages, and filed a lawsuit against Chairman Park for damages of 7.1 billion won. When Chairman Park Hyeon-jong moved to CVCI and took the seat of bhc CEO, BBQ had no person in charge or data to explain the dispute with CVCI.

Although BBQ’s claim was not accepted in the first trial of the lawsuit for damages, the second trial ruled that bhc should compensate BBQ for 2.8 billion won.

In fact, in the appeal trial of the damages claim filed by BBQ against bhc in January, the 18th Civil Division of the Seoul High Court found that Hyun-Jong Park, chairman of bhc, was in charge of negotiations on the sale as a director of BBQ, and was entrusted with the drafting of the stock purchase contract. Therefore, despite the duty to faithfully handle it, it was judged that it had violated the duty of care by committing a negligence, and was generally involved in the process of concluding the stock purchase contract in this case, including continuing contact and negotiations with CVCI.

In particular, Chairman Park Hyeon-jong reviews the draft of the stock purchase agreement written in English and requests translation of the draft, or through the process of collecting and reviewing the contents to be included in the case disclosure list from each department of bhc through the same department staff, the case disclosure list I saw that he played a key role in making the list, such as completing the

Despite this ruling, bhc denied the second trial verdict.

bhc argued, “In this appeals court ruling, it was judged that Chairman Park Hyun-jong did not appear to have supervised the due diligence process on bhc in the stock purchase contract (bhc trading) or was involved in the preparation of specific details in the list of affiliates.” .

In addition to this, there have been lawsuits such as unilateral termination of ‘product supply contract’ and ‘logistics service contract’, and ‘trade secret infringement’.

The atmosphere in the industry is that the legal battle that has been going on for 10 years surrounding not only the chairman of the group company but also the entire group is enough to negatively affect the image of bhc chicken.

An industry insider said, “It is important to be number one in the industry through sales, but it is also important to resolve these legal issues surrounding the company as a whole and the executives, including the chairman.” A negative image is inevitable,” he said.

[ 경기신문 = 이지민 기자 ]