국세청이 10일 오전 LG화학에서 세무조사에 착수하면서 한 때 직원간 몸싸움이 벌어지는 등의 광경이 벌어졌다.
오전 10시반쯤 여의도 LG트윈타워 1층에 서울지방국세청에서 파견된 직원 약 40명이 건물로 진입을 시도했지만 20층 LG화학 재무부서로 가는 길을 막기 위해 서있는 경비원에 길이 막혔다.
이 과정에서 국세청 직원 몇 명은 LG측 직원들에게 엘리베이터를 가리키며, “모두 국민 세금으로 산거다“라며 왜 못올라가게 막냐면서 서로 신경전을 벌였다.
국세청 직원들은 두세시간 뒤에야 세무조사를 위한 서류를 확보할 수 있었다.
LG화학측은 해당 조사는 정기조사이며, 2010년 이후에 처음이라고 밝혔다.
(코리아헤럴드 석지현 기자
monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 기사>
Tax agency conducts unexpected raid on LG Chem
The national tax agency on Tuesday rushed into LG Chem to seize account books and related documents, sources said.
About 30-40 officials from the National Tax Services entered the building at around 11:30, but was met by a barricade of guards trying to stop them moving up to the finance team on the 20th floor.
Public relations officials from LG downplayed rumors about the firm’s possible embezzlement, saying the visit was part of the tax agency’s random visits on local conglomerates. The NTS declined to comment.
“One of the NTS officials were sneering at LG employees, saying if the elevators were purchased with the government tax,” an LG employee who witnessed the scene told The Korea Herald.
The scuffle lasted for less than a half-hour, with the NTS officials threatening the guards and LG officials to step aside.
Witnesses said the guards are still watching the elevators for a possible intrusion.
The latest raid comes in about four years after the tax agency launched a regular tax investigation on LG Chem in July 2010. Whether Tuesday’s visit was part of a periodic inspection or a raid over possible irregularities is yet unknown.
By Suk Gee-hyun (
monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)
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