Hana Bank Recruitment Scandal Trial Concludes, Verdict Set for November 26

Ham Young-joo, chairman of Hana Financial Group, faces a three-year prison sentence for obstructing the recruitment process at Hana Bank by manipulating scores for specific applicants based on requests from acquaintances.

During the sentencing hearing on October 1 at the Seoul Western District Court, the prosecution requested a three-year prison term, consistent with previous rulings in the first and second trials.

In his final statement, Ham denied the allegations, stating, "While I have relayed requests regarding acquaintances' hiring as a matter of courtesy, I never thought I would influence the process to the extent of violating standards. There was no reason to instruct that applicants who did not meet the criteria be accepted."

Ham was indicted in June 2018 for allegedly manipulating scores of certain applicants during the public recruitment process in 2015 and 2016 while serving as the bank's president. According to the prosecution, he intervened in the document screening, group interviews, and executive interviews, and established a male-to-female hiring ratio of 4 to 1, favoring male applicants.

The first trial court acknowledged that Ham conveyed recommendations but found insufficient evidence that he exerted influence to ensure the acceptance of applicants outside the passing range, resulting in an acquittal.

However, the second trial court determined that Ham conspired with the head of human resources to select candidates for acceptance despite knowing they had failed, sentencing him to six months in prison, two years of probation, and a fine of 3 million won.

The Supreme Court reviewed the case and, in January, overturned the first trial's acquittal, stating there was insufficient direct or indirect evidence to support the obstruction of business charge, and sent the case back to the Seoul Western District Court. However, it upheld the conviction for violating the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, confirming the 3 million won fine.

The sentencing hearing for Ham's retrial is scheduled for November 26.