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On December 5, Cho made headlines when it was reported that she turned a plane around in order to kick out a crew member. The story goes that Cho was dissatisfied with how her nuts were served to her. Cho then verbally abused the stewardess who served her the nuts, Kim, as well as the purser Park Chang Jin, before ordering the plane to turn around to kick Park off.
Cho has since been accused of violating aviation laws by ordering a plane to turn around. Korean Air is suspected of destroying evidence and pressuring its employees to lie about the "nut rage" incident in order to protect Cho, the daughter of Korean Air chairman Cho Yang Ho.
In the midst of these accusations, Korean Air told the press that Cho would personally apologize to both Park and Kim.
On January 31, Kim stood in trial as a witness, sharing that although Cho did plan on personally apologizing to her, Korean Air wanted Kim to accept that apology in exchange for a job position.
While shedding tears, Kim stated in a wavering voice, "In the middle of last month, a [Korean Air] representative called my mother and said that Vice President Cho wanted to come to our house and personally apologize. At that time, they said to my mother, 'If you cooperate with the apology, there may be an opportunity for [your daughter] to become a professor.'"
Kim continued to assert that she did not accept the offer, saying, "However, because I did not have any intention to accept an apology, I avoided Vice President Cho and did not return to my house for four days."
Kim then said that purser Park, who was also mistreated by Cho alongside Kim, had spread false rumors about her through the media, telling the public that she did accept the offer. Kim explained that after she and her mother received Korean Air's call, she called Park. She said, "I was so scared and anxious that I told him everything and sought his advice. However, purser Park went on TV and claimed that I accepted an offer as a professor and that I gave false testimony; from then on, the internet made me a woman who was guilty of perjury."
Kim reiterated, "My mother and I never thought of accepting an insincere apology." She concluded with, "I wanted to say that I did not fall for the conciliation and I did not lie to prosecution [about this]," and, "Although I know I can't turn the clock back, I want to restore my honor."
According to reports, when Cho was asked by the judge if she had anything to say to Kim, Cho merely said to her, "I will take this opportunity to say that I sincerely apologize," without making eye contact.
In other news, the former Korean Air vice president pleaded not guilty to all her charges except for one, the charge of assault against Kim. If found guilty on all her charges, Cho will face 15 years in prison.
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