[Edaily Reporter KIM KI DUK ] Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon and former Executive Vice President Cho Hyun-moon, who were at the center of a family feud over control of the group, met in court for the first time in 12 years. Chairman Cho expressed his feelings, saying, “If the issue is about assets, let’s resolve it, and I hope we can each go our separate ways now.”

On the 21st, Judge Lee Seong-yeol of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25 presided over a hearing for former Vice Chairman Cho and former News Communications CEO Park Su-hwan, who were indicted on charges including attempted coercion, and conducted a witness examination of Chairman Cho.

Former Vice President Cho is accused of deciding to resign in 2013 due to legal disputes with Hyosung Group and subsequently demanding that Hyosung Group distribute a press release announcing his resignation. He is also accused of coercing Chairman Cho by demanding an apology for slandering his spouse and threatening to report allegations of corruption if the demand was not met, though the coercion is alleged to have been unsuccessful.

During the trial that day, when the prosecution asked whether the statement in the press release at the time—that “former Vice President Cho contributed to the company’s long-term growth by enhancing the competitiveness of the heavy industry division”—was true, Chairman Cho replied, “That is not accurate. The heavy industry division was virtually ruined during former Vice President Cho’s tenure.”

Regarding the process by which former Vice President Cho’s side demanded an apology for the rumors about his spouse, Chairman Cho flatly stated, “We never created such rumors. If they wish, they can go to the police to find out who wrote them, so I couldn’t understand why they were coercively demanding an apology from us.”

In addition, Chairman Cho mentioned the incident on March 8, 2015, when former Vice President Cho visited the Seongbuk-dong residence of his father, the late Cho Seok-rae, Honorary Chairman of the Hyosung Group. He stated that he had heard former Vice President Cho make remarks to the effect that “I regret being born from the womb of a viper of a mother” and “I will send you to the depths of hell and make you rot in prison until you die.”

When the prosecution asked about his desire for punishment, Chairman Cho replied, “This lawsuit was chosen by my father—who said this was the only way to make his second son see the light—with a heavy heart. He said he hoped his son would reflect on his actions, even if it took this approach,” and added, “I want him to be punished.”

Meanwhile, cross-examination of Chairman Cho by former Vice President Cho’s side is scheduled to take place this afternoon.