Chairman of Private School Under Fire for Ordering Staff to Drive Grandchild and Clean Up After Pet Dog: Abuse of Power Allegations

Ordered Staff to Care for Grandchild and Clean Up After Pet Dog
Embezzlement of About 90 Million Won Suspected... Reported to Police

The chairman of a private school in Seoul is under police investigation after allegations surfaced that he ordered staff to perform personal errands and misused the school budget for private purposes-so-called "gapjil" (abuse of power).

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education building exterior

According to the education sector on October 20, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education conducted an audit of a private school in its jurisdiction and confirmed that Chairman A repeatedly gave personal instructions to school staff.

It was revealed that Chairman A instructed staff to drive his grandchild, who attends an elementary school about 20 minutes away by car, to and from school. For about a year starting in March last year, staff members took turns using a corporate vehicle to transport his grandchild.

Investigations also found that Chairman A repeatedly gave personal instructions, such as having his grandchild accompany student field trips or assigning staff to clean up after his pet dog.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education found during the audit that Chairman A had improperly used the school foundation's budget to cover his grandchild’s care expenses and pay comprehensive income taxes. It was also determined that he hired his own child at a business operated by the school foundation, who received a salary without actually working. The amount of funds misappropriated is estimated to be about 90 million won.

In August, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education filed a police report against Chairman A on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust, and the office plans to proceed with the process to revoke his appointment as an executive.