Dongbu group chief resigns for sexually harassing young secretary

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 21, 2017, 16:34 Updated : September 21, 2017, 16:34

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Kim Jun-ki, a prominent self-made businessman who nurtured a small construction company into a conglomerate, apologized and resigned as Dongbu Group chairman after he was sued by his secretary for habitual sexual harassment.

The 73-year-old apologized for the scandal, saying he was resigning from all top group posts. "I do not want to be a burden to my company because of my personal problems," he said in a statement.

The decision came two days after one of his female secretaries sued Kim, claiming she has been sexually molested regularly between February and July of this year. The group said professional managers would run the group and its units.

Dongbu holds interests in steel, chemicals, finance, electronics and real estate development. Kim, who once headed the Federation of Korean Industries, an influential lobby group of leading conglomerates, started a construction company after taking a 40-day overseas trip in 1969. His business took off in the 1970s, riding the Middle East construction boom.

Kim's resignation comes amid growing awareness of women's rights. President Moon Jae-in has vowed to build a safe society for women, portraying himself as a "feminist president".

In June, Choi Ho-sig, 63, resigned as chairman of Hosigi Doomari Chicken, one of South Korea's major fried chicken franchises, after he was involved in a sex scandal during a dinner with a young office lady of his company. The office lady filed a complaint with police, accusing Choi of sexual harassment but she dropped the suit later.


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