A Public Official Who Received Condolence Money for a Fake Father's Funeral... Turns Out It Was an Uncle's Funeral

On the 16th, MBC reported that a public official in Seoul falsely claimed the death of an uncle as the death of a father and even received condolence money. Photo by MBC broadcast screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A public official in Seoul is facing criticism for falsely claiming the death of his uncle as his father's death and even receiving condolence money.

On the 16th, MBC reported that Mr. A, a public official in his 50s, posted the news of his father's death on the Seoul Songpa-gu Public Officials' Union website at the end of last month.

According to the report, some employees, including the neighborhood chief, traveled all the way to Buyeo, Chungnam, to pay their respects, and many colleagues contributed condolence money. However, a week later, posts saying "We were deceived" began appearing on the website. It turned out that it was not the death of his father but his uncle. There were also posts saying "Residents were deceived" as the news was apparently shared with the residents.

Mr. A also took five days off according to the bereavement leave policy for a father's death. It was confirmed that he posted the father's death notice on the union website despite not being a union member, which reportedly angered his colleagues. The district office immediately launched an investigation, and Mr. A has been questioned twice.

Mr. A explained to MBC reporters that although it was not his father's death, he "considered his uncle like a father." The Songpa branch of the Public Officials' Union demanded strong disciplinary action from the district office, stating that this matter "damaged the honor of public officials."

A representative from the Songpa District Office Audit Department said, "We confirmed some misconduct," adding, "He violated the code of conduct and the standards for maintaining the dignity of public officials." The Songpa District Office plans to hold a disciplinary committee for Mr. A once all details, including the amount of condolence money, are fully understood.