Chang Jae-ku, chairman of the Hankook Ilbo, a Korean-language newspaper, did not respond to the prosecution’s summons for questioning on Tuesday.

The prosecution summoned Chang over allegations that he used the company’s money for personal use and inflicted huge financial losses on the media group. But the chairman requested a delay in the summons until the end of July, saying he needed more time to collect the required documents.

The labor union filed a lawsuit against Chang in April, alleging that he misappropriated 20 billion won ($17.9 million) from company funds to write off his personal debt.

The union claimed that Chang intentionally gave up the company’s preferential right to take over a part of a new building built to replace an old office of the firm in Joonghak-dong, Seoul. The chairman sold the property, vowing that he would exercise the company’s priority to take over a part of the building.

(christory@heraldcorp.com)