Going Nuts Over Nuts: The Korean Air Ramp Return Crisis

One of the key factors that has contributed to the development of the South Korean economy is the role of the Chaebols, or large business conglomerates, unique to its culture. Due to this special treatment, some of the young generation of these families take such privileges within their corporations for granted. On December 5, 2014, the Korean Air Flight 86 departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport, returned to the gate and ejected a senior flight attendant from the plane. Cho Hyun‐ah, a Korean Air Executive Vice President on board was not happy with the way the Hawaiin nut snack was served and ordered the captain to move back to ramp and eject the senior flight attendant. This Korean Air "nut rage" case extends beyond a simple incident, but rather an explosion of widely dispersed negative perception of the Chaebols within the South Korean society and against the excessive behaviors of the owner family.