Song was accused of assaulting an employee on multiple occasions over three years starting in 2016, using an iron pipe and a piece of lumber. Footage of Song brutally beating the employee with his fist was aired by local media outlets in December, creating a stir among the public.

The police requested an arrest warrant for Song last Thursday over the alleged assault as well as alleged threats. An arrest warrant hearing had been scheduled at the Seoul Southern District Court on Wednesday morning.

Song was a tech industry expert and was the first to introduce the concept of the “right to be forgotten” in South Korea. In 2012 he founded the Marker Group, turning that concept into a business.

By Park Ju-young (jupark@heraldcorp.com)