Wheemun High School Involved in 'Accounting Fraud' to Have Autonomous Private High School Status Revoked

Embezzlement of Public Funds by Honorary Chairman and Others
Use of School Foundation Credit Cards
First Case of Revocation Due to Accounting Fraud
20 Remaining Autonomous Private High Schools in Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Huimun High School will be converted from an autonomous private high school to a general high school.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 9th that it will proceed with the cancellation of Huimun High School's autonomous private high school designation following the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, after accounting fraud was revealed. According to Article 91-3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, if accounting is executed by false or other fraudulent means, the superintendent of education may cancel the designation of an autonomous private high school.

Earlier, on the 1st, the Office of Education held a 'Designation and Operation Committee for Autonomous Schools' to review whether to cancel Huimun High School's autonomous private high school designation, concluding that "the breach of trust, embezzlement, and aiding embezzlement by the honorary chairman, chairman, and the corporate office director (also serving as Huimun High School's administrative director) are acts contrary to the social responsibility and fairness that come with the autonomy of autonomous private high schools." According to the Office of Education, the 8th honorary chairman of the Huimunsuk school foundation colluded with the corporate office director and others to embezzle a total of 3.825 billion KRW in public funds by receiving donations from Church A under the pretext of school development. It was confirmed that the then chairman, who is the honorary chairman's son, also aided these acts. Although the honorary chairman did not have the authority to use the school foundation's card, he possessed it and used about 239 million KRW for personal purposes over five years. Some of the card payments were also paid from the school’s accounting. The Office of Education reported four people including the honorary chairman, chairman, and corporate office director to the police. The honorary chairman died before the first trial verdict, resulting in dismissal of the prosecution, while the chairman and corporate office director were each sentenced to four years in prison by the Supreme Court in April.

This is the first case nationwide where an autonomous private high school designation was canceled due to accounting fraud. The cancellation of the autonomous private high school designation will be finalized after a hearing process and obtaining the Ministry of Education's consent. After the procedure, Huimun High School will be converted to a general high school starting next year, and currently enrolled students will continue to receive the originally planned autonomous private high school curriculum until graduation. Once Huimun High School is converted to a general high school, there will be 20 autonomous private high schools remaining in Seoul.