Hyundai Shareholders Meeting Expected To Reach Family Thanksgiving Levels Of Awkwardness

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Hyundai Chairman and CEO Chung Mong-koo was convicted in Korean court for embezzling some $100m in company funds. Thanks to Korea's corporate crime-friendly legal system, Chung didn't spend day one (day woo?) in prison. While Hyundai's profits soared under Chung's leadership, indignant shareholders are baying for blood. Moral outrage? Nah. Hyundai's stock growth slowed to six percent last year in the wake of the scandal, well below the Korean benchmark index of 32 percent in the same period. Chung and his son Eui-son (who heads Kia Motors, so add nepotism to the score card) hoped to deflect public criticism by donating over $1b in stock to the public. Only they haven't done it yet. Most of the funds Chung removed from Hyundai's corporate coffers were spent on a slush fund to bribe public officials, which at least partially explains Chung's continuing freedom. It may also explain why many institutional investors appear to be standing behind Chung. Meanwhile, a minority group of shareholders is preparing a lawsuit claiming damages stemming from embezzlement and other mismanagement. This is so not a good thing.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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 4 comments
  • Mjjacobs Mjjacobs on Mar 04, 2008

    Firsty McFirst.

  • Kevin Kevin on Mar 04, 2008

    The guy is still chairman and CEO after that? I remember not long ago the Boeing CEO got thrown out just for hobblin' a female employee mistress. Jaysus....

  • Mel23 Mel23 on Mar 04, 2008

    Wasn't there a brief period when the old man and son were both in the slammer? Apparently the Hyundai execs just can't understand why their wares aren't considered to be up there with Lexus and don't sell like hotcakes. Hence the continuous rotation at the top of US managers.

  • Crackers Crackers on Mar 04, 2008

    This kind of stuff has been normal corporate behaviour in Korea for decades. The reason this guy is in trouble is that he probably bet on the wrong politician.

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