[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized on the 21st the controversy surrounding Ambassador Jang Ha-sung, South Korea's ambassador to China, who allegedly misused a corporate card during his tenure as a professor, saying, "This is really something else."
According to the comprehensive audit results announced by the Ministry of Education last month, 13 professors from Korea University, including Ambassador Jang, used research and administrative cards to pay a total of 66.93 million KRW over 221 occasions at entertainment bars located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from March 2016 to December 2019.
Regarding this, Ambassador Jang explained that the corporate card was used at restaurants, but it was confirmed that the payments were made at entertainment bars.
As the controversy intensified, Ambassador Jang stated at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's online audit of the embassy in China on the 21st, "I sincerely apologize for the payments made in violation of regulations," adding, "I used 2.79 million KRW over six occasions, and since multiple people dined and drank together, the cost exceeded 400,000 KRW (surpassing the research institute operation card limit), so the payments were split between the research institute operation card and the research fund support card."
He continued, "Some media reported that the establishment had a separate room equipped with karaoke facilities, but I never used that room," and explained, "During the Ministry of Education's audit, I was notified that splitting payments with multiple cards was inappropriate, and I have fully reimbursed the problematic amounts."
In relation to this, former professor Jin mocked on his Facebook post, "Since he was involved in the small shareholder movement, maybe he split the payments into small amounts."
In another post, Jin mentioned the names of 10 people, including former Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs Cho Kuk, saying, "The most corrupt place in South Korea is the Blue House, with 10 former senior secretaries, secretaries, administrators, and investigators being prosecuted."
He added, "At this point, it can be called systemic corruption," and criticized, "The most corrupt group in Korea took up the sword to reform, and this is why the country is in such a state."
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