Prosecutors Indict Former Lawmaker Kim Hee-seon for Fraudulent Receipt of Film Production Funds on Independence Activists

A former member of the National Assembly has been brought to trial on charges of fraudulently receiving government subsidies by inflating the production costs of a film related to independence activists.

Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, commencing operations on the 19th.

The Criminal Division 4 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Song Jeong-eun) announced on the 13th that former National Assembly member Kim Hee-seon and A, the secretary-general of the Anti-Japanese Women Independence Movement Memorial Project Association, have been indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Management of Subsidies.

According to the prosecution, former Assembly member Kim, while serving as the chairman of the association, is accused of fraudulently receiving approximately 50 million won in subsidies by inflating the production costs of a film related to the "Anti-Japanese Women Independence Activist Memorial Cultural Festival" from September to December 2021.

The prosecution found that Kim instructed A to inflate the film production costs to twice the actual amount to receive subsidies from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, paid the funds to the film production company, and then received half of the amount back as a donation to the association, which was used for the corporation's operating expenses.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs detected signs last March that the association had fraudulently received several tens of millions of won in government subsidies and requested an investigation by the police.

Kim Hee-seon served as a member of the 16th and 17th National Assembly.