Employee of Gwangju Tourism Association Illegally Using 'Consignment Project Funds' Sent to Prosecution

An official from the Gwangju Tourism Association was handed over to the prosecution for illegally using private consignment project funds for other purposes.

The Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 13th that it had sent Mr. A, affiliated with the association, on charges of embezzlement in the course of duty.

Mr. A is suspected of embezzling about 500 million won by fabricating false transactions with the consignment project funds recently provided by Gwangju Metropolitan City to the association, using the money for association operating expenses and expenses needed for other consignment projects.

The association was investigated to have used funds from other consignment projects as operating expenses after suffering from operational difficulties, including losing a lawsuit related to severance pay. Currently, all embezzled amounts have been repaid.

Earlier, the city requested a police investigation after it was revealed that the Tourism Association had misappropriated and embezzled funds during the operation of nine consignment projects, including tourism information center operation expenses and event hosting costs.

A police official said, "Although private consignment project funds are specifically restricted in their use, it was confirmed that they were illegally used as association operating expenses."