Cho Sung-hwan Jeon (CEO)... "I will take full responsibility for the assault incident... It was an organized misconduct and planned assault aimed at seizing exclusive rights."

*This content was translated by AI.

Cho Sung-hwan Jeon (CEO), CEO of Joyworks Co., Ltd., the exclusive distributor in South Korea for the global sports brand 'HOKA', announced on the 10th that he will assume both legal and moral responsibility for the assault incident first reported through a media outlet at the end of last year. He further emphasized at the press conference that evidence has emerged indicating an organized misconduct and planned assault by former and current employees, along with competing companies, motivated by their attempt to secure HOKA's exclusive domestic distribution rights.

Cho Jeon (CEO) held a press conference at the Korea Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, around 11 a.m. on the 10th, stating, "I will certainly bear my own mistakes and willingly accept any punishment," while also asserting that over the past eight months, it was confirmed that a small group of internal accomplices colluded with external forces to attempt to strip him of his domestic exclusive distribution rights.

Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side emphasized that CaveWorks, operated by the assault victims, was not a subcontractor but a competitor of Joyworks. Lee Don-ho, an attorney at Law Firm Noh Ba (CEO), stated, "There was no contractual relationship between the two companies at the time of the incident," and added that through the Media Arbitration Committee, the term 'subcontractor' used in previous reports has been corrected to 'competitor.'

CaveWorks was established by former Joyworks employee Im Mo, who managed certain clients during his tenure, along with Cheon Mo, a client representative he oversaw. Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side revealed that they have secured evidence showing that after the business relationship ended, these individuals continued to contact Joyworks employees and conducted transactions through shell companies.

On this day, Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side also disclosed a group chat involving CaveWorks representatives and former and current Joyworks employees. The chat used the name 'JoKaeWorks,' a combination of 'JoyWorks' and 'CaveWorks,' and contained conversations suggesting that company documents were exchanged via personal email and that contract templates and business operation methods were shared.

Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side presented discussions regarding issues such as taking inventory and samples outside the company or making payments, explaining these as evidence of internal staff recruitment, information leaks, and transactions conducted through shell companies.

Testimonies suggesting that the assault incident was anticipated in advance were also presented. Son Na-ja-yong (CEO) from the running brand 'Pular,' which had a partnership with the victims, testified, "Before the incident, the victims repeatedly said things like, 'We'll just take a few hits and it will be over' or 'We're going to get beaten up.'"

Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side also released audio recordings of a conversation in which Im Mo reportedly said before the incident, "If I get hit, I'll just take it," as well as materials showing that immediately after the incident, the victims' side exchanged messages indicating sentiments such as, "Actually, this turned out well."

The possibility of external involvement was also raised. Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side pointed to conversations between assault victims Im Mo and Cheon Mo in which so-called 'Chairman,' political figures, and high-ranking law enforcement authorities were mentioned. Additionally, the group chat contained messages such as "Even members of parliament are very interested" and "If they start causing trouble with interest from the political sphere," presenting these as indications of external forces' involvement.

Questions were also raised regarding the media reporting process. Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side disclosed an audio recording in which a person on the victims' side referred to a broadcasting journalist who covered the incident as his "nephew" and mentioned, "My nephew even called all the way from the U.S." After this journalist questioned Decathlon, HOKA's U.S. headquarters, about domestic boycotts and whether contracts would be maintained, Decathlon terminated its contract with Joyworks. Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side explained that Korean companies subsequently contacted the headquarters to secure HOKA distribution rights.

Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side argued that a series of events—from contacts between internal staff and competing companies, to circumstances before and after the assault, movements by external figures and media, contract termination, and attempts to secure distribution rights—suggests the possibility of an organized effort.

Cho Jeon (CEO) stated, "I will bear my own mistakes, but please prevent employees from bearing the punishment on my behalf," adding, "The truth will inevitably be revealed through investigation."

In response to a question during the subsequent Q&A session with reporters asking whether he had specifically identified a company as the mastermind, Cho Jeon (CEO) replied, "Several companies that have long competed with major corporations are involved. It should be possible to infer which entity benefited most from the contract termination."

Cho Jeon (CEO)'s side announced that additional evidence and testimonies not disclosed today will be released sequentially through a YouTube channel in the future.

Currently, Joyworks has filed criminal complaints against the victims for trade secret infringement, breach of trust with aggravating circumstances, and accepting bribes from breach of trust. Cho Jeon (CEO) is also proceeding with criminal complaints for spreading false information and defamation.

Meanwhile, HOKA's domestic business continues to be operated by Joyworks. The International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), under the American Arbitration Association, issued an emergency order preventing Decathlon from appointing a new exclusive distributor in South Korea. However, this is a temporary measure maintaining the status quo until a final ruling is made, and Joyworks' distribution rights have not yet been definitively confirmed.

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*This content was translated by AI.