Court rejects arrest of ‘nut rage’ mum

ASEOUL court has turned down a request from prosecutors to arrest the matriarch of the troubled Korean Air dynasty over multiple assault charges, sparking public anger.

Lee Myung-hee, the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, was released from police custody late on Monday after the Seoul Central District Court refused to issue an arrest warrant for her.

It was a rare piece of good news for the family, who have found themselves the object of public anger following a series of scandals.

Lee’s two daughters, who held management positions at South Korea’s national carrier, became viral sensations for temper tantrums which were dubbed the “nut rage” and “water rage” scandals online.

Her older daughter Cho Hyun-ah made global headlines in 2014 for kicking a cabin crew chief off a Korean Air plane for being served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl. She later served a short prison sentence.

Earlier this year, her younger sister Cho Hyun-min was accused of throwing a drink at an advertising agency manager’s face in a fit of rage during a business meeting.

Their father, Cho Yang-ho, issued a public apology over the “immature” behaviour of his offspring and removed his two daughters from their management roles.

Cho Hyun-ah was questioned for 15 hours until early Tuesday by tax authorities as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations she used Korean Air flights to smuggle foreign luxuries.