"You spoke Korean well last year".Adidas CEO scolded by National Audit Office

At last year's National Assembly, Kim Jung-joong (left) and Peter Kwak, CEO of Adidas Korea (right)

Adidas Korea's representative Peter Kwak (Kwak Geun-yeop), who attended the parliamentary inspection of the government, was criticized both ruling and opposition parties.

At the National Policy Committee's parliamentary inspection of the Fair Trade Commission held on the 21st, Kwak appeared as a witness to the alleged violation of the Affiliate Business Act and the Agency Act.

Adidas Korea was controversial when it unilaterally notified franchisees of the termination of the franchise contract while reorganizing its business in January 2022. In response, franchisees who ended their contracts formed the Adidas National Association of Owners and appealed for Adidas Korea's overuse of power, including deprivation of online sales rights and excessive compensation for damages.

Rep. Shin Chang-sik of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party asked Kwak, who appeared as a witness at the National Policy Committee's parliamentary audit this year following last year, "In the parliamentary audit last year, Adidas Korea said it would review realistic measures suitable for the specificity of the Korean market, but what measures have been taken so far?"When Representative Kwak

answered in English, Representative Shin pointed out, "I answered in Korean last year, but why are we using interpretation this year?"

Kim Jung-joong, chairman of the Adidas National Association of Owners, also said, "CEO Kwak spoke only in Korean at the first meeting with us in September 2021, and he spoke in Korean at the meeting to find a future partner through a strategy announcement in January 2022," adding, "He has never communicated with us, and this is the first time he has seen this."

In response, CEO Kwak said, "I couldn't answer properly and couldn't say what I wanted to say at last year's parliamentary inspection," adding, "Most importantly, there is a risk of perjury due to my Korean language, so I would like to tell you through an interpretation this year to prevent serious problems."

Representative Yoo Young-ha of People's Power said, "[Representative Kwak] had his hand in his pocket," adding, "It is unpleasant that our culture may be different from Canada (from Representative Kwak). No one in Canada's National Assembly will come out as a witness (with one attitude) with their hands in their pockets like that," he claimed.

Kang Min-gook, a member of the People's Power Party who served as the ruling party secretary of the National Policy Committee, said, "There was a scene where a witness Kwak took a note when Rep. Shin asked a question. "I can communicate in Korean enough, but I think it is intended to neutralize the parliamentary audit," he said. "It seems that a special investigation is needed by the FTC, including the crime of contempt of the National Assembly or perjury of the National Assembly."

Kang Joon-hyun of the Democratic Party, who served as the opposition secretary of the National Policy Committee, also said, "As Kang Min-guk said, the ruling and opposition party secretary will actively consider it."

Yoon Han-hong, a member of the People's Power, stressed, "I think the Fair Trade Commission should investigate once," and Han Ki-jung, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, replied, "I see."

Reporter Lee Yu Na from Digital News Team.