#5 Kim Woo-Choong

Company: Daewoo

Date captured: June 2005

Kim Woo-choong was the founder and chairman of the Daewoo Group. In the mid-90s, Daewoo was the second largest conglomerate in South Korean—owning over 20 businesses specializing in telecommunications, transportation, and manufacturing.

The company was forced into bankruptcy in Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, when its chairman embezzled $43 billion, while illegally “borrowing” an additional $10.3 billion and smuggling $3.2 billion out of the country. Woo-Choong fled to France shortly after, and was on the list of Interpol.

He was arrested soon after he returned to South Korea on June 14, 2005, and apologized "for hurting the nation and accepted full responsibility for the collapse of the group, adding he is ready to accept whatever the authorities have in store for him," as reported by south Korean media. In May 2006 he was sentenced to 10 years in jail after being found guilty of charges including embezzlement and accounting fraud. 21 trillion won ($22bn) of his fortune was seized and he was fined an additional 10m won. On 30 December 2007, he was granted amnesty by President Roh Moo-hyun.

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