Local coffee brand ends franchise deal with Hanjin family

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 4, 2018, 10:30 Updated : May 4, 2018, 10:30

[Ediya Coffee]


SEOUL -- To protect its brand image, Ediya, a South Korean coffee shop brand, has severed franchise deals with two daughters of Hanjin Group head Cho Yang-ho who has been under fire for arrogance, misconduct and illegal activities by his family.

Ediya said in a notice uploaded onto its website that it has terminated contracts with Cho Hyun-ah, the eldest daughter known for a "nut rage" incident in 2014 and Cho Hyun-min, the youngest daughter who sparked public fury for throwing a glass cup at a business meeting with advertising agency officials in March.

The two daughters operate Ediya coffee shops in central Seoul and at a university hospital sponsored by Hanjin in the western port city of Incheon respectively.

Ediya head Moon Chang-gi said his franchise stores have become the innocent victim of public backlash, although Hanjin has no stake in his business. "We have absolutely no ties with Hanjin Group," he said. "Rumors that Ediya is Hanjin's subsidiary or 'they' have shared are not true."

Ediya should be left out of the Hanjin scandal, Moon said, warning he would take legal action against those who concoct or spread malicious allegations. The franchise launched in 2001 has built its image with friendly operations and low prices to lessen the burden of shop owners.

Cho Hyun-min, a former Korean Air executive, was questioned by police this week over allegations that the 35-year-old threw a glass cup at an advertising agency official and sprayed plum juice at other participants. She argued she never hurled a glass cup toward any participants in a business meeting at her office on March 16.

The case sparked a flurry of investigations by police, customs officials and transport authorities into possible illegal activities by Cho's family. There have been a series of revelations by whistle-blowers about misconducts and illegal acts by the ruling family, which was accused of bringing in foreign luxury goods without paying duties through a legitimate loophole at airports.

On Friday, Korean Air workers will hold a candle-lit rally on a public plaza in central Seoul, urging Cho Yang-ho and his family to completely take their hands off. To prevent possible disadvantages, they will wear black clothes, hats, sunglasses or face masks.

 
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