Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon (right) and his brother Cho Hyun-moon, former vice president of Hyosung Group, arrive at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Friday for a hearing in the attempted coercion case against the former vice president. [Yonhap]
Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon (right) and his brother Cho Hyun-moon, former vice president of Hyosung Group, arrive at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Friday for a hearing in the attempted coercion case against the former vice president. [Yonhap]

Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon appeared in court Friday and testified that his younger brother, former Vice President Cho Hyun-moon, had subjected him to coercion and threats, saying he wanted the harshest possible punishment.

Judge Lee Seong-yeol of Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25 presided over a hearing Friday in the attempted coercion case against the former vice president and Park Su-hwan, former head of News Communications, during which Cho Hyun-joon was examined as a witness.

Testifying as a witness, Cho said his late father, honorary chairman Cho Suk-rai, had left word before his death that filing a criminal complaint was the only way to bring his younger brother to his senses. The courtroom encounter was the brothers' first face-to-face meeting in roughly 12 years, since the family feud over management control that erupted in 2014.

Cho Hyun-moon faces charges of threatening his brother in 2013, allegedly demanding the release of a press statement portraying himself as the driving force behind the company's growth and an apology over rumors concerning his spouse. The press statement was said to have contained language expressing gratitude for the former vice president's contributions to the company's development, including strengthening the competitiveness of its heavy industry division. Prosecutors believe Cho Hyun-moon suspected his brother's camp of being behind the spousal infidelity rumors, which fueled the conflict between the two.

On the demand for the press statement, Cho Hyun-joon said the content was "false material that could not have been issued voluntarily unless under coercion," and flatly denied any involvement in spreading the rumors. He said Park and others warned him that they would "go to Seocho-dong" — a reference to the prosecutors' office — if he did not apologize.

On allegations related to the sale of unlisted shares at inflated prices, Cho Hyun-joon said his brother had made remarks to their parents that he described as deeply shocking — including threats to make them "rot in prison for life" and statements expressing regret at having been born of his mother. "I was appalled by what was clearly a threat," he said.

Cho Hyun-joon reiterated to the court that he wanted his brother punished. "My father said the only way to bring Hyun-moon to his senses was through legal action, and I filed the complaint with a heart-wrenching resolve," he said. "I just hope he stops tormenting the family and we can each go our separate ways."

Cho Hyun-moon's legal team maintains that the remarks were simply cautionary warnings about alleged management misconduct, not threats. When defense counsel pressed Cho Hyun-joon during cross-examination, asking whether the statements were merely warnings, he pushed back sharply. "How could anyone reasonably take it as a simple warning when someone who was once your brother says such things to his own sibling and father?" he said.

The court is scheduled to hold one additional witness examination session with Cho Hyun-joon on Aug. 28.


hwshin@heraldcorp.com