'4.6 Billion Embezzlement' NHIS Team Leader Had an Internal Accomplice Who Aided Overseas Escape

Transfer of 16 Million Won Escape Funds via Cryptocurrency
Dismissed Last May...Suspect Charged with Escape Offense

It was recently revealed that an accomplice inside the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) helped Choi Mo (46), the former head of the finance management team who embezzled a record 4.6 billion KRW and fled to the Philippines.

On the 8th, Yonhap News reported that the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Wonju Branch indicted Jo Mo (43, female), also affiliated with the NHIS, on charges of aiding Choi's escape by remitting funds during his overseas flight (harboring a criminal). Jo is accused of transferring 16 million KRW to Choi's cryptocurrency electronic wallet as escape funds from January to August last year while Choi was hiding in the Philippines.

Choi, who is accused of embezzling a total of 4.6 billion KRW while serving as the head of the Financial Management Team at the National Health Insurance Service, was apprehended in the Philippines and repatriated to South Korea through Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on January 17.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Choi was arrested and prosecuted on charges of embezzling a total of 4.6 billion KRW in 18 installments by manipulating the internal computer network while working at the NHIS Finance Management Office from April to September 2022. He falsified creditor account information to make it appear as if money was paid to hospitals, then transferred the funds to his own account to embezzle them. After the crime, Choi fled to the Philippines and hid for 1 year and 4 months at a luxury resort in Manila before being arrested by police in January through international cooperation with Interpol and repatriated to South Korea. It is reported that Choi lost about 3.5 billion KRW of the embezzled 4.6 billion KRW by investing it in gifts, and the NHIS was only able to recover about 720 million KRW through civil lawsuits involving account seizure and collection.

At the time of arrest, Choi denied having accomplices, but the police traced Choi’s accounts and uncovered Jo’s involvement. The NHIS reportedly dismissed Jo in May. During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Jo to 10 months in prison. Jo’s first trial sentencing hearing is scheduled for the 26th at 2:10 PM at the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch.

Meanwhile, Choi was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first trial for embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. He was acquitted of charges related to the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment due to lack of evidence. Both Choi and the prosecution appealed the first trial verdict. The prosecution stated, "Considering the remittance details of 3.5 billion KRW obtained through cryptocurrency among the 4.6 billion KRW embezzled by Choi, and the use of accounts under other people's names in transactions, the crime of concealing criminal proceeds is sufficiently proven. We will do our best to maintain the prosecution so that Choi, who embezzled tens of billions of won in health insurance premiums paid by the public, receives a sentence commensurate with the crime."