[THE INVESTOR] Prosecutors on Nov. 22 launched an investigation into allegations that Kim Dong-seon, the youngest son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon, assaulted and harassed attorneys of prominent law firm Kim & Chang at a gathering in Seoul in September.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the 28-year-old Kim was so intoxicated at the event that he could not stand straight. He allegedly ordered a dozen lawyers to “keep their backs straight” and asked them what their fathers do for a living in a derogatory manner. Some lawyers left as soon as he started misbehaving, while those who tried to hold him back were reportedly slapped, had their hair pulled and insulted. 

Kim Dong-seon.

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Kim reportedly apologized to the lawyers the next day and they accepted it. But after his behavior was revealed in a media report early this week, the Korea Bar Association filed a complaint on Nov. 21, the same day his father apologized to the victims again.

In January this year, Kim was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of probation for assaulting two bar workers in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. He has since resigned from his post at a subsidiary of the group in an attempt to distance the company from his actions.

By Alex Lee (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)