The eyes of the media are on whether Chung Yong-jin, vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, would appear on the parliamentary inspection of the administration as a witness this year.
Both Trade, Industry and Energy Committee and Environment and Labor Committee are calling for his presence as a witness for the lack of efforts for mutual growth and the illegal dispatch in E-mart each.
Chung appeared on the parliamentary inspection in November 2013 with regard to super supermarket called SSM.
Shinsegae's efforts to grow together with small businesses are still underway. In September of last year, the company announced that it would grow together with traditional markets and withdraw its goods from SSM "Everyday." However, it was found that the company sold the products for the next few months.
Further, when Shinsegae Group's construction arm, Shinsegae Engineering & Construction added multiple local businesses such as public bath, restaurants and spa service to their new businesses in the shareholders' meeting in February, the public sentiment went against the company.
Former and current employees who obtained money by illegally using borrowed-name stocks were found out during the E-mart's tax investigation. The chief of National Tax Service said he would "deal with them in accordance with rules and principles." Shinsegae was also embroiled in the controversy over borrowed-name stocks in 2006.