영국의 경제지 파이낸셜 타임스(FT)가 12일 법적으로 곤란한 문제가 발생할 때마다 몸이 아픈 것을 핑계(?)로 위기를 모면하는 한국 재벌총수와 한국 사법제도를 비판했다.

FT는 이날 '한국 재벌총수들은 곤란할 때마다 휠체어를 탄다'는 제하의 기사를 통해 “한국 재벌총수들은 결정적인 순간마다 몸이 아프다는 이유를 대고 엄벌을 피해왔고 법원도 온정적인 판결을 내렸다”고 이같이 보도했다.

 FT는 그 사례로, 지난 2005년 ‘안기부 X파일 사건’ 당시 이건희 삼성 회장이 미국에서 귀국하면서 휠체어를 타고 들어와 에버랜드 전환사채(CB) 편법증여 사건수사에서 검찰조사를 받지 않은 것을 들었다.

또, 지난해 정몽구 현대기아차그룹 회장이 비자금 조성 혐의 재판 과정에서 휠체어를 탄 채 법정에 등장했고, 결국 집행유예 판결을 받았다는 것을 지적했다.

이어 아들의 보복폭행 사건에 직접 폭력을 휘두른 김승연 한화그룹 회장도 휠체어에 환자복 차림으로 법정에 등장했고, 역시 집행유예 판결을 받았다고 FT는 보도했다.

다음은 파이낸셜타임즈 기사전문
As things get tough, S Korea's bosses get rolling

By Anna Fifield in Seoul
Published: September 12 2007 03:00 | Last updated: September 12 2007 03:00

Wheelchairs seem to be the vehicle of choice for South Korean tycoons who find themselves in a spot of bother.

Lee Kun-hee, the chairman of Samsung, last year rolled back into Korea in a shiny silver number. This was after suddenly travelling to the US just as prosecutors began an investigation into allegations that he had illegally passed his wealth on to his children. Mr Lee was never questioned aboutthe case, which seems now to have gone away.

 Chung Mong-koo, the boss of Hyundai Motor, was wheeled into court for his trial on charges of embezzling $100m of company money and breach of trust, also related to attempts to transfer the family business to his son.

He last week had his three-year jail sentence suspended, with the judgesaying the country needed him back in the office.

 Kim Seung-youn, chairman of the Hanwha explosives conglomerate, yesterday went one better, showing up at court in not just a wheelchair but in hospital pyjamas as well. Only a few months ago, Mr Kim waswell enough to participate in a Godfather-style attack involving a steelbar, his bodyguards and some karaokeroom workers who were mean to hisson.

However, yesterday his 18-month prison term for assault was also suspended.

The Korean courts appear to believe that it is in the national interest to have these industrial giants continue to run their publicly listed companies, regardless of what they might get up to behind the scenes.

Wouldn't the national interest be better served by business leaders that behaved themselves and a legal system that treated all citizens equally?