In Argentina, on the opposite side of the globe, a shirt factory operated by a Korean businessman has become the center of a local fishing industry corruption investigation due to the submission of false documents indicating the 'purchase' of 12 tons of squid. This is seen as an attempt to evade regulations requiring 20% of the catch to be processed domestically, raising suspicions that the businessman inflated processing records through his textile company. Furthermore, controversy is spreading due to allegations of negligence by the Argentine authorities in failing to properly oversee these abnormal transactions.
Argentine fisheries news outlet 'Revista Puerto' reported shocking details on the 8th (local time) that fishing company 'Asudepes SA' is suspected of falsely fulfilling the 20% reprocessing obligation for 151 tons of squid caught by its vessel 'Asudepes II'.
According to the report, between February 8th and 13th, Asudepes allegedly claimed to have sold a total of 48.2 tons of squid tubes (processed cylindrical squid bodies) to the domestic market, submitting 16 invoices to the authorities. However, all submitted invoices lacked the Electronic Authorization Code (CAE), making it impossible to verify the actual authenticity of the transactions. This is a clear violation of the mandatory requirements specified in Argentina's Fisheries Secretariat Resolution 01/22.
The core of the controversy revolves around the suspicious squid purchase history of a textile company named 'Tiaca Tex SRL'. This company, specializing in the manufacture and import-export of clothing, apparel, and accessories, is documented to have purchased a staggering 12.229 tons of squid tubes in just four days. Even more astonishing is the fact that the owner of 'Tiaca Tex' is none other than Jim Bae Chung (정진배), the representative of Asudepes, and is known locally as a shirt manufacturing company. A local Argentine source clearly stated in an interview with Revista Puerto, "Tiaca Tex is a company where Jim Bae Chung makes shirts." This strongly supports the suspicion of fictitious transactions, given that a company in an industry clearly unrelated to seafood processing purchased a large quantity of squid in a short period.
◇ Dubious Moves by Fisheries Authorities…Growing Suspicions of Connivance and Collusion
A more serious issue is the Argentine fisheries authorities' failure to properly monitor these clearly abnormal transaction circumstances. The submitted suspicious false documents were reportedly reviewed by Belén Moreno, an official of the Control and Supervision Directorate, and reported to her sister, Director Cecilia Moreno. However, for some reason, the fisheries authorities apparently did not raise any questions about the unusual large-scale purchase of squid by a textile company.
An informant familiar with the internal affairs of other companies with processing obligations told Revista Puerto, "This case clearly shows how abnormal the management style of Cecilia (Moreno, Director of the Control and Supervision Directorate) and her team is. Nothing is properly controlled, and flawed documents are openly approved. The Asudepes case is just the tip of the iceberg." This reveals a serious dysfunction in the Argentine fisheries authorities' management system or even suggests the possibility of collusion with specific companies.
Furthermore, during the same period, another company owned by Jim Bae Chung, 'Asia International', is also recorded to have purchased 9 tons of squid tubes. Liquor distributor 'Hauser Factory' is listed as purchasing 12.8 tons, and 'Summer Hamilton', a company with an unclear business sector, is documented to have purchased 15.399 tons. Notably, 'Summer Hamilton' shares the same address (Lima 355, 10th floor) as Jim Bae Chung, further increasing the possibility of fictitious transactions through a shell company.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Asudepes already had the physical infrastructure to process squid, employing 54 workers under the name 'Distribuidora Calisto SRL' at an address in the Mar del Plata area since April last year. Despite this, the fact that they disguised the 'purchase' of squid through unrelated companies such as a textile firm strongly suggests a deliberate manipulation of documents to evade the domestic processing obligation.
Revista Puerto pointed out that the Asudepes case is a stark example of the widespread irregularities prevalent throughout the Argentine fishing industry, adding that Undersecretary of Fisheries Juan Antonio López Cazorla and Arturo Idoia have officially requested an explanation regarding this situation from Fisheries Coordination and Supervision Director Molina, but have not received any response to date. This could be interpreted as evidence that the Argentine fisheries authorities are either uncomfortable about this corruption scandal or have serious internal problems.
This incident exposes the deep-rooted corruption within the Argentine fishing industry, while simultaneously highlighting the complex issues of ethical conduct by foreign-invested companies and the local authorities' lax oversight system. It is imperative that the Argentine authorities conduct a thorough investigation to clearly uncover the truth and impose severe penalties on those involved. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for fundamental institutional reforms and the establishment of a transparent and efficient management and supervision system to prevent recurrence.
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