Although GS Caltex CEO Huh Se-hong, the 4th generation of the GS family, was excluded from the list of witnesses for the parliamentary inspection due to his overseas business trip, he reportedly enjoyed golf overseas, causing controversy.
CEO Huh was initially selected as a witness for the parliamentary audit on the manipulation of emissions at the Yeosu industrial estate, but he was excluded due to his business trip abroad.
According to the National Assembly, GS Caltex, and MBC on Oct. 2, CEO Huh of GS Caltex, Shin Hak-cheol, vice chairman of LG Chem, and Kim Chang-beom, vice chairman of Hanwha Chemical, were selected as witnesses in connection with the manipulation of emissions at the Yeosu industrial estate.
The manipulation case caused public uproar in April when the Environment Ministry's Yeongsan River Basin Environment Agency revealed that companies at the Yeosu industrial complex had conspired with air pollutants measuring companies and manipulated pollution emission figures. Four people involved were later arrested and 31 indicted without physical detention through a prosecution investigation.
However, after the ruling and opposition parties reached an agreement on the matter at the request of independent lawmaker Lee Yong-joo, the list of witnesses changed to Kim Ki-tae, head of the sustainability management office of GS Caltex, LG Chem President Son Ok-dong, and Hanwha Chemical CEO Lee Ku-young.
In particular, CEO Huh was excluded from the witness list due to his business trip abroad, but controversy is mounting as he is known to enjoy golf abroad. He was seen playing golf alone at a luxury golf course on Singapore's Sentosa Island, which is famous for the North American summit.
Regarding this, a GS Caltex official said, "CEO Huh went on a business trip to Singapore to attend a meeting of shareholders to secure stability in oil imports according to the schedule," adding, "The venue of the conference was the meeting room in the clubhouse."
