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Korean Air’s Cho family risk losing Jin Air licence
July 6th 2018
The drama involving South Korea’s Cho family is continuing. Read More » South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is considering cancellation of the business licence of Korean Air subsidiary, Jin Air, following an unlawful appointment to the board of the low-cost carrier.
Specifically, South Korean authorities are investigating why Cho Hyun-min, daughter of Hanjin Group chairman Cho Yang-ho, was appointed to the Jin Air board of directors from 2010-2016 despite holding U.S. citizenship. South Korean law requires that all board members be South Korean citizens.
The hearing is expected to take up to three months. The MOLIT has launched a separate enquiry into the ministry’s approval of Cho Hyun-min’s appointment.
The MOLIT has the power to revoke Jin Air’s business licence and ask the carrier to cease operations. In the best case scenario, Jin Air would receive a heavy fine.
Cho Hyun-min is the sister of Cho Hyun-ah, the Korean Air heiress who became infamous the world over after ordering a Korean Air A380 back to the gate at New York’s JFK airport because she was not happy with the way she was served macadamia nuts. The Chos also are being investigated for customs and tax evasion among other allegations.
Jin Air is based at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. It flies 21 B737-800s and four B777-200ERs to 25 regional destinations.
