【 Anchor 】
A theft involving several million won recently occurred at a golf course in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
Belying its title as a 'first-generation prestige golf course' of Shinan Group, ranked 60th among Korea's business groups, the club showed an irresponsible attitude toward resolving the case.
It makes a mockery of the company's own introduction, which claims to place 'corporate ethics' as its highest value for the sake of social responsibility and trust.
Reporter Yang Mi-jeong has the story.


【 Reporter 】
A theft involving several million won recently occurred at Riviera CC, a members-only golf course in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The suspect, Mr. A, stole 5 million won in cash from the glove box of a Bentley and fled before being caught by police.

Mr. A turned out not to be a professional valet attendant but a salesperson for a vehicle restoration company who regularly helped the parking attendants with their work and committed the premeditated crime.

Riviera CC, however, dodged responsibility, saying the incident was caused by the valet parking contractor's negligence.

▶ Interview (☎): Riviera CC official
- "While our valet staff briefly stepped away, (the suspect) took the customer's car key and committed the theft. The valet company wired the money to the victim. So the 5 million won was paid."

The valet parking company likewise said it was a matter for the police to handle and dodged the reporter's question about whether it checks criminal records when hiring staff.

▶ Interview (☎): Valet parking company owner
- "I don't really know. About that. The police would know. It's not like we did it; the police caught the culprit, so they'd know. He set his mind on stealing and stole it…."

In the end, the victim was compensated for the full amount stolen but says he never received a proper apology or a promise to prevent a recurrence from the golf course.

▶ Interview (☎): Victim of Mr. A
- "I've been a regular visitor for a long time. I heard a similar incident happened at Shinan CC, which is run by the same group. It's truly unacceptable. Since you trust the golf course and hand over your car for valet parking, I believe all the responsibility lies with the golf course. "

Once the reporting began, Riviera CC said it had acknowledged its moral responsibility and apologized to the victim, but the golden hour for restoring lost trust had already passed.

▶ Interview (☎): Attorney Shin Dong-woo
- "To keep incidents like this from recurring, regulation of valet parking is absolutely necessary. In particular, we should consider changing valet parking companies in the parking-agency business from the current notification system to a registration system and imposing obligations such as criminal background checks and insurance coverage."

▶ Standup: Yang Mi-jeong / Reporter
- "As Riviera CC continues its complacent response,
distrust is growing among patrons who have trusted the golf course with their cars."

This is Yang Mi-jeong for Maeil Business TV. [mkcertain@mk.co.kr]

Video: Reporter Park Hyun-sung [mkphs@mk.co.kr]