Police file warrant for Pigeon head

Gangnam District Police said yesterday that it filed an arrest warrant for the founder of Pigeon Corporation, Lee Yoon-chai, 77, for hiring gang members to assault a former executive of the company, Lee Eun-wook, and then helping the attackers evade police.

The police said they filed the warrant after securing testimony and evidence during their investigation.

In two rounds of questioning by police, the Pigeon founder admitted to giving 300 million won ($254,000) in cash to one of his aides, surnamed Kim, but denied that he directly ordered the attack.

Lee Yoon-chai testified that he only told Kim to “do something to scare Lee [Eun-wook] off,” police said, and that he never thought Kim would hire gang members.

Police, however, said they received testimony from Kim in which he admits that the Pigeon founder ordered him to hire the gang members. Kim also admitted that he paid the gang leader, surnamed Kim, 34, in cash.

Lee Eun-wook was attacked on Sept. 5 as he returned to his home in Samseong-dong, Seoul. He had filed a wrongful termination suit after being fired in June. He said the attack was ordered because of the lawsuit and that he was fired after criticizing the founder’s family for using company money.

By Song Ji-hye, Kwon Sang-soo [sakwon80@joongang.co.kr]