Paris Baguette's parent company 'deeply regrets' arrest warrant request for chairman

SPC Group expressed "deep regret" for the prosecution's attempt to acquire an arrest warrant for its chairman, Hur Young-in, for alleged union busting.

SPC Chairman Hur Young-in attended pre-arrest questioning at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Thursday over allegations that he coerced employees to leave their union after entering the courtroom through a non-public corridor. In this photo, Hur is seen leaving the Seoul Central District Court on Feb. 2 after the court acquitted on charges of ordering the sale of affiliate company stocks at a low price to avoid gift tax. [YONHAP]

Korean bakery giant SPC Group expressed "deep regret" over the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant for its chairman, Hur Young-in, for allegedly coercing Paris Baguette bakers to leave their labor union, citing unclear allegations and excessive procedures.

"We believe that the allegations against Chairman Hur are not clear enough to warrant the arrest of an elderly, hospitalized patient without affording him sufficient opportunity to testify and defend himself," the group said through a statement Thursday, underscoring stronger sentiment than that conveyed in a previous announcement made Wednesday.

"We are deeply dismayed by the repeated incidents during a crucial phase of the company's global business expansion," it continued. "While we had hoped for the prosecution to carefully consider Hur's position, we are deeply disappointed with the current situation."

The chairman faces accusations of involvement in pressuring union members to abandon the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions by imposing personnel disadvantages. The prosecution reportedly acquired statements indicative of a directive by Hur to disrupt the union during investigations into SPC's CEO, Hwang Jae-bok, who has already been arrested.

Hur's pre-arrest questioning was scheduled Thursday afternoon at the Seoul Central District Court, with a conclusion anticipated by Thursday night or Friday morning.

If he is arrested, SPC Group may find itself grappling with a leadership vacuum crisis that could potentially disrupt the company's operations. Hwang was arrested last month on similar suspicions to Hur, while Kang Sun-hee, a co-CEO, resigned last month to support her husband's election campaign ahead of the general election on April 10.

Hur, who has postponed multiple summons from the prosecution, recently met with Mario Pascucci, CEO and third-generation founder of the Italian coffee brand Pascucci, on March 24 to discuss Paris Baguette's expansion into Italy.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]