CRW 2 ‘Nut Rage’ Executive
Heather Cho, former executive with Korean Air, was released from prison last week. She became internationally famous for her nutty response to being improperly served macadamia nuts. Her imprisonment since December 30 was the result of violating plane safety and abusing staff. In February, she was sentenced to one year in jail, but on Friday, a judge released her from prison and gave her a suspended sentence.
Students: Choose ONE of the following to answer.
1. Was she punished fairly?
2. If you were the judge, how would you have punished her? (either serious or funny responses)
3. Does public humiliation work as a punishment?
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
5. Is putting family members in key positions a good way to run a company?
6. Imagine you are the flight crew who was abused by Heather Cho. Also imagine that this is your last flight for Korean Air because you just won the lottery. What would you have done instead?
English Language Pages 
5. Is putting family members in key positions a good way to run a company?
Putting family members in key positions is neither a good way nor a proper way to run a company. There are three reasons why family members should not be in key position.
First of all, it is unfair for job applicants to put family members in the key positions. By putting family members in key positions, another person can’t have an opportunity to enter a company and promote for the positions.
Second, although putting family member in key positions is convenient for chairman to communicate and manage, chairman must think carefully whether family members’ qualification for those key positions is proper or not. If they are not, family members can be harmful for the company’s businesses which are similar with the case of Cho hyun-ah.
Finally, it can be harmful to increase competitiveness of the company. Hiring family members in key positions, there would not be various ideas from competitors. Also, it adversely affects the growth of the company.
Therefore, putting family members in key positions is not a good way to run a company.
I remember hearing an interesting saying years ago, which rings with some truth, “Grandfathers create a business, fathers manage the business, and grandkids spend the money.” Korea is seeing more grandkids take over businesses these days. It will be interesting to see if they have the business acumen of their grandfathers and fathers.
I’m not really sure about which is right way to manage company but the sure thing is we should take into account about good companies that are managed with family members. And the first reason you says ‘unfair’ but when we try to think opposite, this could be fair because they are the owner of the company. Think about ‘Samsung’. Most of the Samsung’s important parts of work are consisted with Samsung’s family members. However, there was no such a big problem with Samsung and still they are big company in Korea. And the second thing, it is important that chairman should think carefully about the position of his or her own business. And this is not only limited in family company but also for another company that consisted with diverse workers. And for the last reason, how could you improve that ‘harmful to increase competiveness’? So I’m little bit curious about your idea.
I think that by hiring family members in key positions in the company, there is no chance to compete and have creative idea. It limits others’ opportunity to apply the company. So I think it is unfair to them. And about your second arguement, i thinkg that although there is some creative ideas from employees, it has limitations and it may not be related to actual management. I think that competition to have a key position is needed because it makes company more competive.
I think that anyone who can manage the corporation successfully and has sense of duty is able to run the company. If management specialist who are not one of the family members can take the company,of course, it is clearly great in terms of redistribution of wealth and being meritocracy. Otherwise, if the family members who have studied about management a lot run the company, it would be a good choice in that stability can be maintained.
6. Imagine you are the flight crew who was abused by Heather Cho. Also imagine that this is your last flight for Korean Air because you just won the lottery. What would you have done instead?
This is certainly enjoyable imagination. Many people say that they would not live like this if they won lottery. Also, many businessmen imagine this situation several times a day. If I were an office manager Park, I deal with this situation cleverly enduring the desire for rapping Heather Cho on the head. The illegal behavior could be disadvantage to me. At first, I would record the swear words she said to the flight crew and the violent behaviors by smart phone. In addition, it is another good way to upset her by explaining the manual kindly and make her hit me. Then, the last of explanation, I would say “Your face and these behaviors are not appropriate for the manual” showing her the records of her behaviors. And I would add “This is the new manual” cramming a pack of macadamia into her mouth. This imagination is childish but delightful.
It must be funny thing to cram her mouth with nuts! I agree that to remain records would be a clever thing to deal with that situation.
It is interesting! In addition, If you experienced it, I will recommend you that you must make a trial in US!
She might be very puzzled , if you cram nuts into her mouth. Also it is so delightful imagine that arrongant people become to know how shamful their behavior is
Funny! But make sure you don’t her. She might sue you. Being polite is one of the most important strategy dealing with rude customers. Anyway, it’s funny.
hahaha it is really interesting. If i won the lottery, I invest a lot of money in Asiana Airlines!
– Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
Unfortunately, I think it is true. As we can see in punishment of ‘Nuts rage’, laws work generously on wealthy, powerful people. Korea’s government system is in principle divided into the legislative, the judical, and the administrative branches. But, in fact, the three branches are related deeply and conscious of one another. A lawmaking is favorable to the wealthy and so is a law enforcement. Actually, it was reported that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had tested judge applicants to decide whom to recruit. NIS had asked applicants of their ideas about our society and politics. From this, we can know that Korea’s justice system is not fair. I’m sure that if it was an ordinary man, not heather Cho, who had stopped the airplane, he would be punished much heavily. Such a circumstance is problematic but moreover, a circumstance that people cannot do anything to correct this situation is more serious.
I liked your point about three branches are deeply realted to each other. I also think she got a light level of punishment than she was supposed to do. It is very shameful and uncomfortable thing to have the unfair punishment system in our country.
Sadly, I also think it is true. In Korea, these situations that powerful people treated differently are not unusual. It is one of big problems which our country should solve immediately.
Being boss around is rampant in our society. There are always ‘Gap-ghil’ in Korea, for example, we can see around a person who is yelling at restaurant employees and who speaks the informal form to street cleaners. Before pursuing being the wealthy, we should learn about refinement and thoughtless.
3. Does public humiliation work as a punishment?
Public humiliation would be expressed by various way such as newspaper, news etc. However public humiliation is used just for famous people such as entertainer, singer or rich person. Therefore Heather Cho, former executive with Korean Air happening was also not an exception. She punished publicly by whole world. And this was quite shocking for her because she born into man’s daughter and she never has an experienced about humiliation to public. Therefore I think that public humiliation can work as a punishment for public people and can be good way to retrospect criminal’s fault. By announcing or viewing on television or newspaper, he or she could feel guiltier by her or himself than punished by judgement. Secondly, humiliation of public people’s fault is good because criminal couldn’t abandon their fault into money. If the press didn’t publish anything about event, maybe public people could defend their fault into money. But If their faults are published by peoples, people want to make a severely penalty to criminals. So judge wouldn’t make any decision to make some benefits to public person.
I think the biggest punishment Heather Cho got was public humiliation. Because she lost her reputation and freedom from the public. It may be such a big damage to that kind of a woman.
3. Does public humiliation work as a punishment?
In my opinion, public humiliation work as a punishment. These days, mass media is well developed. In this situation, public humiliation can occur in various ways and it can quickly spread to Korea and rest of the world. In Korea, this case was parodied on SNS and some entertainers ridiculed her by imitating her behavior. And she was covered through a foreign press. She was target for satire on various media for a few months. In addition, It had a bad effect on not only her but also her corporation. Many people criticized severely Korean air and this airline was suffered greatly.Like this, although she was confined in prison in a short time, she was criticized heavily by public and will be criticized consistently. I think sometimes public humiliation is more effective than legal punishment. Maybe she will behave properly to avoid public humiliation.
I agree with your opinion. Although I think that she was deserved to punished, public humiliation was effective to her case. Maybe she will behave carefully to avoid others’ blame.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
Yes.
There’s a saying, “All mighty is the dollar.” Especially, the almighty dollar principle has been around the world not except for Korea. As you can see through Cho, former executive with Korean Air, it is more evident. For the rich, privilege is allowed to them. That is, although they commit a crime, if they contribute to developing economy, they are given a particular pardon and suspended sentence. For this reason, they naturally don’t be supposed to fear law. Nowadays, the arrogance of the boss is hot issue that people suffered from their owner or who are an relative advantageous position. So, a piece or bad news, suspended sentence of Cho puts an enormous amount of strain on them. Therefore, above all things, a mild punishment should not be allowed to the rich anymore. It is what the rich murder the normal people twice.
It is the sad truth. I agree with your idea. As time goes by, cases like this are getting more, I think.
I agree with your opinion. The saying is commensurate with this situation.
1.Was she punished fairly?
I think the punishment was OK. It doesn’t mean she was punished fairly enough. As a member of chaebol family, she clearly got such a low level of punishment than normal people. But seeing through what she has been through, she paid a price for her arrogant action. She lost her reputation, career that are necessary to continue her job.Her career ended up dishonorably and she may also lose the freedom for quite a long time. The system of punishment in Korea shows a favorable attitude especially to chaebol. With This unfair system, she might get a light punishment than she was supposed to be. But it is the system that cannot be revised through a punishment on one woman. So, I want to satisfy with this much. And obviously, the scale of damage from her arrogance may be realtively smaller than any other crime such as embezzlement. In conclusion, The punishment for a memeber of chaebol who lost her self-control was understandable.
I agree with your opinion. Although she was confined in prison for a short time, she was punished by public in various ways and will be punished continuously. So I think legal punishment was not fair but punishment by public was relatively fair.
What she lost the most is her pride. If i got into the situation, i could not raise my hear with shame. With it happening, Korean Air lost their reputation which the corporation had build up for decades.
I agree that the punishment for a memeber of chaebol who lost her self-control was understandable. She has to lose her reputation and control of company.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
Yes. It is definitely true. It can be deniable true. This is because not only was law basically made by powerful and wealthy group, but a law-enforcement people are also powerful and wealthy men. Due to this simple fact, people who have authority cannot help but having an advantage in front of judgement of law because they know well how to conveniently take an advantage of law by themselves as well as they have power to be able to fix law only for themselves.
An example of this, we have seen lots of unreasonable sentences in Korea. Among them, Chun doo hwan who was president in Korea was released just about in two years in jail even though he carried out a coup, killed numerous innocent people and committed a lot of crimes to be a president. In addition, under a dictatorial government he carried out, although he hided public money, overusing his power, he has not received adequate punishment until now and besides, it seems impossible itself to bring him court.
Like this, it is undeniable fact that law follows powerful men. We can easily find this examples if you turn on TV at least in Korea.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
Regrettably, It is almost a matter of public knowledge that powerful and wealthy people treated differently by the justice system, not only in this ‘nut return’ case but also in other cases.
I recently read the book “What Money Can’t Buy’ by Michael Sandel. According to the example in this book, in Santa Ana, California, and some other cities, non violent offenders can pay for better accommodationsㅡa clean, quiet jail cell, away from the cells for nonpaying prisoners.
I think it shows the fact that guilty people can pay for their crimes comfortably in this age of materialism. How can it be said that all people are equal under the law? I feel terrible that we live in the world where almost everything can be bought and sold even indulgence.
I’ve also heard to my frirend who served in prision instead of military service (it is also kind of military service). Many congressmen or large company ceo have a benefit when they have been jailed like VIP room which has many equipment , special menu, one to one visit in their room and so on. It seems kind of capitalistic harmful effect.
I’ve also heard to my frirend who served in prision instead of military service (it is also kind of military service). Many congressmen or large company ceo have a benefit when they have been jailed like VIP room which has many equipment , special menu, one to one visit in their room and so on. It seems kind of capitalistic harmful effect.
That’s a really unfair reailty. The fact that there is a vip room in the prison itself is a contradiction. Prison is a place of self-restraint under sin.
5. Is putting family members in key positions a good way to run a company?
Working with family is often a necessity at small operations or even at big companies, but it also comes with challenges. Business owners must build strong relationships with staff who need to see their own possibilities for promotion within the firm. Non-family staff might also resent family members who are given unearned perks and positions. For example, if you hire your 21-year-old son as a manager of 30 people because you love him and want to help him, consider that in the long run, it might be the worst decision. He might not be ready, might be rejected by the employees, and it might hurt his development because rather than furthering his education, getting some work experience elsewhere and getting ready to lead other people, he’s being thrown into the cold water too early. In conclusion, putting family members without any contemplation can be harmful to run a company.
I agree with your idea. I know most of companies are ran by family members such as samsung.
Your example is quite impressive for this topic. As you said, unready executives are completely fatal to companies. It is too dangerous to make them occupy the key positions just becasue they are daughters or sons of the president of the companies!
Yes. Having a key position without being equipped to run the company is riskful thing. Also, having a proper personality and responsibility as a high executive is important.
I agree with your opinion. I think it is really unattractive factor that give key position to their family member. To develop or foster its company, i think it needs objective system, as putting external personnel to run a company or applying same personnel management even if they are family members.
Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
I think wealthy and powerful people treated differently by the justice system. To be honest, I do not know well that how heather Joe, former executive with Korean Air, was released. But, except for this case, there are too many cases that Korean law has looked over wealthy and powerful people. For example, most of members of Congress did not go to the service, even their sons. The reason they could not go to the service is they have been very sick with some kinds of illness, but other men should go to the service even if they have same illness. They said that they are too weak to go to the army, however, they are enjoying golf, ski, and other sorts of extreme sports. Moreover, they sometimes take a bribe, which is illegal constitutionally. I do not understand why our law is irrational and unfairly applied only for the poor. It must be changed for our clean and trustful society.
I agree. do you know ‘Air gun murder’ of the wife of Yongnam flour company? She killed one woman through hitman. However, judgment is amazing. The probation.
I agree with your idea. It is absurd that the members of the national assembly are doing illegal actions but not punished by using money. The fact that the money they get each month from government is the tax of Korean people makes me upset. They do not deserve to be representatives of Korea.
Service means military service? Yes, I agree your opinion. Many politicians always cause a controversy due to corruption about this service.
1. Was she punished fairly?
I think that she was punished plenarily because she regret her wrongdoings. As you know, Jo hyeon ah who is a former vice president was accused in relation to lamp return (so-called Peanut return). The center of the indictment is to recognize the “Sin about a deviation (of route)”. In the first instance, It sentenced one years imprisonment to her because it recognized the “Sin about a deviation (of route)”. So she spent 143 days (December 30 to May 22th) in prison. However, in the second trial, Kim, Sang-Hwan judge is commuted to probation 2 years. a matter of judgment is that she has an introspection and self-examination in period of five months, and she is a mother of two-year-old twins and retired from the Vice President. Also, Kim, Sang-Hwan considers the “Sin about a deviation (of route)” as the innocent.
5. Is putting family members in key positions a good way to run a company?
In my view, Korean major company’s child usually succeed the company even though their ability is unproven or ineffectual. because of this conditions, it seems the rich of current tend to want fortify their wealth more viciously. they have to built more solid wall as they want leave all the privilege. through this ‘Nut Rage’ , Johyeonah who have lived in a world of their own be showed naked to the public. through her, I saw the deformed appearance of the conglomerate Hidden behind the spectacular power and money. surrounded by Camera flashes of numerous journalists, she was hiding behind the back like a little child clutching the hem of attendants. and she could not conceal the shrink and look extremely scared. This deformed appearance of her remind me the Hunchback of Notre-Dame de Paris. because the world she lived extremely limited and less, when put in a little different situation they could not cope with it. It is better to both society and company that they(child) also undergo every hardship and breeze than just live complete to-be-heir.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
I think wealthy, powerful people relatively treated differently by the justice system. Because I watched this cases on the TV. For example, a chairman of a major company embezzled company funds for personal gain. Therefore, he was sent to jail. However, he came out of the prison a few days later. The reason for getting out of the prison is that he became sick in jail. However, he shortly regained his health and showed up at his company. This case was out of all reason and I think it was unfair. These cases occur rather frequently. I think wealthy, powerful people tend to escape punishment. Therefore, they commit a crime without compunction. This situation is a serious problem and it can disturb the order. Thus, we have to solve it.
Right. Wealthy, powerful people are treated differently from normal people. It is so easy for them to get out of the prison because they have a lot of money and power. Even if they kill a lot of people, like Jeon-Du-Hwan, they are not punished completely. It is too unfair..!
3. Does public humiliation work as a punishment?
I don’t think that a public humiliation worked as a punishment for Heather Cho. Firstly, the public was not sure if Heather Jo really felt humiliation for her behavior in the airport. While she got first judgement in the court, some situation happened that makes people doubt about Heather Cho’s apology to the public. For example, it was revealed that the Daehan airport tried to censor crew members’ messages in cellphone and fabricated a cabin crew’s testimony. These kinds of things only confirmed that Heather Cho didn’t know what was wrong for what she did and her disagreement for the judgement. Also, A few days ago, Heather Cho received the decision from the court that she was not guilty. I can’t understand why the decision had changed from the first court that said Heather Cho was guilty. I believe the result was manipulated by the upper people in government and business people. Therefore, I think the public humiliation is not working a penalty but helping her acting as a person looks like regretting her behavior.
I agree with you. Public humiliation is perhaps a moment happening for her. She did not have any penalty from the court, so she would continuously think “Money is all” She cannot know what was wrong of her behavior because no one around her really scolds at her.
1. Was she punished fairly?
I think she did not punish fairly. Actually, in Korea, many people think people who are called “Loyal company family” often get punishment much smaller than other people who did not have much money. Because until now, numerous judgement showed us these unfair results. In addition, I watched a news that she received a 2 years suspended sentence. After people knew that, they said it is ridiculous. According to lots of news, if she has to punish about her guilty in US, she would not get free easily. However, she already released from prison. I think it shows that sometimes, Korea’s judgement is not right to people who are like Heather Cho. In conclusion, I think she must punish more fairly for regretting her fault.
I agree with you. There is a word in Korea 유전무죄 무전유죄 which means that having money is not guilty,but no money is guilty. I think this theory still occupies the Korean society.
5. Is putting family members in key positions a good way to run a company?
Putting family members in key positions of a company has continuously happened in most companies. Though the past hereditary succession disappeared, a new kind of hereditary succession is occurring in recent days. However, a company filled with family members cannot effectively go forward. In short, that kind of composition is not helpful for development of the company. It is because, first of all, the company become to be full of key members who have similar and narrow values. A company usually needs creative and fresh ideas for advancement. However, if family members who have similar values and views occupy most key positions, it is difficult for the company to get out of a narrow viewpoint. Also, those are the ones who usually live and see a life of upper classes, so their views are likely to be narrow and focus on upper values. The restricted range of thoughts is completely fatal to development of the company. In addition, as the case of Heather Cho, former executive with Korean Air, family members’ mistakes which come from a privileged sense can screw up an image of a company. Family members often behave as they want, because they think they are masters of the company. Their arrogant actions damage an image of the company and buy hatred from the public. Like this, putting family members in key positions just increases their privileged sense and causes various problems which harm development of the company. In sum, in order to run a company smartly, it is needed for its president to abstain from putting family members in key positions.
I agree to some of your opinion, that is putting family members in key positions of a company can be dangerous because it can lead to a narrow perspective and restricted human resource. However, I think Nut rage has to be looked in a different perspective. The problem is, I think, her personality, not her being the owner’s family. Definitely her action has affected the image of Koreana Airline, but anyone could have even if she were not family of the owner. So as you said, the privileged sense of “the haves” is more serious problem.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
In my opinion, wealthy and powerful people are judged differently than others by justice system. Equitable judgment is one of the most important roles of justice system. But from long ago, judicial system has been interfered by political and economical profits. And also, these phenomena have been appeared in modern Korea without exceptions. Numerous CEO and some of preceding presidents were judged more light than what they did, like peculation and bribery. There have been many attempts to make perfect independence of justice system, but we still have a long way to realize it. So, the problem about establish the fair justice system, has to be concerned continually.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
Many people think powerful people treated differently by the justice system. I agree. However, I want to insist that it is much better than the past. In other words, I believe we are getting close to the justice by justice system. Think about 70’s, Our king(president Park) killed hundreds people to maintain his authority and abused the power of law. However, citizens constantly had fought with abuse of power and we are making peaceful and fair nation. I do not mean that justice system is very fair, but we are making the fair. As a result, I believe we can live more fairful world in the future.
I agree with your opinion partially. Cleary, we have advanced to make more transparent society. But, we can not always consider our circumstances hardly that we belong as well. I hope that we can make more fairful and objective society without blaming something.
3. Does public humiliation work as a punishment?
Surely yes. Human beings are not robots. We have mind and can be hurt by words. And we are socially active in our society. As human being requires social connection, anything that hurts it can be harmful to a person. In this respective, public humiliation can be one of the most powerful punishment for some people, and that also means it can hurt some people badly. However, the problem is that this kind of punishment cannot be measured into degrees and is not carried out by certain people but some unknown people, might be everyone. For this reason, it has to be differentiated with legal punishment, as uncertain things are unable to be in the judgemental sentence.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
There’s a saying, “All the people are equal before the law.” Our constitution states that all men and women are created equal, thus it also means that everyone must be treated equally by the justice system. However, this principle has been around the world except for Korea. Comparing with North Korea’s the hereditary succession of power, South Korea also has the same but only different in the field, the capital. Almost of the powerful people in Korea inherit their power and property from their parents or one’s family. And, they also use their power to solve the problem, when they are summoned to the court. They usually pay a big bail to prove their innocence or get out of prison. Therefore, powerful people should be treated differently by the new justice system. They have a lot of privileges in Korea. Not only punishment of the heather Cho’s nuts-rage, but also many cases in similar, you can see that laws work more generously on powerful people in Korea. For these reasons, it is necessary for making fair society, there should be some justice system, which punish and treat powerful people severely and fairly like most people.
I think she Heather Cho did not punished fairly because the sentence she got at the first judgement was changed at the second. She got a year of imprisonment at first, however, she got changed sentence which is a stay of execution. Since ‘Nut Rage’ was issued in nation, many people were focusing that case and they expected enough punishment. Some people thought even the first sentence was not sufficient for her because this case was considered as a brutality of contractors. Therefore, as people’s satisfaction of her punishment was not fulfilled, I think she was not punished properly.
Even if ‘Nut rage’ was so controversy both internally and internationally, Heather Cho finally received a suspended sentence. I think people might expect that the punishment will be not heavy. The thinking that “There’s one law for the rich, and another for the poor.” is prevalent in our society and people believe that money has absolute power. Every time people hear news that wealthy and powerful people break the law or commit a serious crime, people expect that they will get out of the bad situation by any means, which the poor never go through. The ‘Nut rage’ is not only example of different judgment depends on people’s position. The famous event called ‘the judgment of ramen thief’ is show the unfair society. To illustrate this event, the oldest son of a large company in Korea named embezzled public funds about seven billion won so, he was sentenced to 3 years. On the other hand, one old man who robbed 10 ramen and twenty thousand won was sentenced to 3 years and 6 month in jail. After broadcasting on a TV about this judgment, people got angry saying how could a man who has no choice but to rub only a few thousands won to live was sentenced to over year than another man who stole over billion won. As we see these unfair events around us, the justice system always stands up to the rich.
I choose the question number four.
4. Are wealthy, powerful people treated differently by the justice system?
Does public humiliation work as a punishment?
I think public humiliation work as a punishment. Due to digital revolution, people receive information directly and fast through smart devices. So public opinion is formed more easily than the past. Also Sns like facebook and twitter work as importantly to form public opinion. Users can easily tell their opinion frankly and it can get easily get agreement. So today, most people are sensitive to public opinion. Especially public figures like politicians, entertainer, enterprisers are fatal if they get public humiliation. Because their own image is most important to them.