KT union files police complaint over outside director's HR meddling and Rivada involvement

KT’s labor union has filed a complaint with the Jongno Police Station against outside director Lee Seung-hoon, demanding a comprehensive overhaul of the board after allegations that he interfered in personnel decisions and pressured involvement in a German satellite company investment. The union says internal investigations alone are insufficient to establish the facts.

The union highlights two core issues. First, it alleges that between late 2025 and January 2026, the outside director used his position to press HR leaders for specific posts or to inappropriately influence hiring decisions, suggesting possible coercion or obstruction of duties. Second, it raises concerns over Rivada, a German satellite communications company, claiming the director urged or recommended the investment to KT’s decision-makers.

The union argues that such conduct undermines corporate governance by allowing an outside director to influence personnel and investment choices. It says internal probes may lack objectivity and calls for a thorough external investigation to determine responsibility and scope.

KT’s labor group also demanded immediate suspension of the outside director’s duties pending investigation and called for a full board renewal. It urged the adoption of an outside-director evaluation system, a labor-director framework, and strengthened compliance measures to prevent recurrence.

KT 노조의 김인관 위원장은 “KT의 주인은 특정 세력이 아니라 직원과 주주”라며 “회사의 근간을 흔드는 비위 의혹을 끝까지 추적해 지배구조의 투명성을 바로 세우겠다”고 말했다. The union framed the case as a structural governance issue, not the misdeeds of a single individual, and pledged further legal avenues and shareholder actions as evidence emerges.

The case underscores governance questions surrounding major Korean tech and telecom firms that operate with significant foreign investment and collaboration. KT, Korea’s leading telecom operator, relies on global partnerships and large-scale investments, including partnerships and potential stakes involving foreign firms, which can affect supply chains, technology strategy, and regulatory scrutiny.

For U.S. readers, the developments matter because governance integrity at multinational companies handling critical infrastructure can influence risk profiles for investors, suppliers, and partners. If the allegations prove credible, they could prompt closer cross-border scrutiny of corporate governance practices, impact KT’s international collaborations, and shape how foreign investment is evaluated in Korea’s flagship conglomerates. Monitoring is likely to focus on how KT responds with reforms and whether authorities corroborate the findings, with potential ripple effects for global tech and telecom investment strategies.