South Korea's airlines in trouble amid chaebol reform

Asiana, Korean Air owners face criminal probes, public outrage

Employees of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines protesting outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul last Saturday. Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho is under probe for tax evasion and embezzlement, while Asiana Airlines employees have spoken out agains
Employees of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines protesting outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul last Saturday. Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho is under probe for tax evasion and embezzlement, while Asiana Airlines employees have spoken out against the airline for forcing flight stewardesses to sing, dance and declare publicly their love for its chairman, Mr Park Sam-koo, during his monthly visits to their training centre. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Employees of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines protesting outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul last Saturday. Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho is under probe for tax evasion and embezzlement, while Asiana Airlines employees have spoken out agains
Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-Ho PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Employees of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines protesting outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul last Saturday. Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho is under probe for tax evasion and embezzlement, while Asiana Airlines employees have spoken out agains
Asiana Chairman Park Sam-Koo PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

South Korea's two main airline conglomerates are in trouble, with both facing public outrage, employee protests, plunging share prices and accusations of mismanagement and misbehaviour by their owners' families.

Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho is under probe for tax evasion and embezzlement.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 16, 2018, with the headline South Korea's airlines in trouble amid chaebol reform. Subscribe