[Exclusive] Tens of Millions Withdrawn from Accounts... Alleged Subsidy Embezzlement from 'Sinan Salt Farm Slaves' at Gwangju Nursing Hospital

Signs of Embezzlement at Ilgok-dong Nursing Hospital in Buk-gu, Gwangju
Repeated Withdrawals of Basic Living Allowances and Health Insurance Refunds
Legal Action Difficult Due to Victims' Lack of Legal Competence

Nursing hospital in Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Min Chanki

An official at a nursing hospital in Buk-gu, Gwangju is facing allegations of effectively "detaining and managing" individuals deemed legally incompetent, including victims of labor exploitation at the Sinan salt farm, and siphoning off their wages, basic living allowances, and insurance refunds over several years. Calls are mounting for a full-scale investigation by the relevant authorities.

According to whistleblowers and other sources on November 25, Park, the owner of a nursing hospital located in Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, has allegedly been withdrawing basic living allowances, earned income, and health insurance refunds from patients' bank accounts over an extended period, under the pretext of managing the accounts of hospitalized patients.

It has been confirmed that many of the victims include "salt farm victims" who endured decades of labor exploitation and assault at the Sinan salt farm.

In fact, according to the account transaction records of victim A obtained by The Asia Business Daily, monthly wages were deposited into A's account under the name of salt farm owner Hong starting in 2014, and from around 2019, basic living allowances began to be deposited instead.

A worked at the salt farm for 30 to 40 years and, in 2018, was sent to the nursing hospital operated by Park by Hong and his spouse, the salt farm owners, after being told there was "no more work." A has been residing at the hospital ever since.

After being admitted to the hospital, tens of millions of KRW were withdrawn from A's account over several years. The current balance is around 1 million KRW. Notably, the transaction history repeatedly shows large withdrawals made under Park's name, often amounting to several million KRW each time.

In 2019, as soon as approximately 4.4 million KRW in insurance cancellation money was deposited into A's account, 4 million KRW was withdrawn to Park's account. Withdrawals were also made under the name of a church operated by Park, and there is evidence of spending at department stores, supermarkets, and gas stations.

In April 2019, when 4.4 million KRW of life insurance cancellation money was deposited into the account of victim A, who suffered labor exploitation at the Sinan salt farm, 4 million KRW was withdrawn to the account of person B. Photo by Min Chanki

However, A claims, "I have never even seen the bankbook in question," and insists that he knows nothing about the account opening process or any of the transactions.

A further stated, "I have never received wages or basic living allowances. Park only occasionally gave me 40,000 to 50,000 KRW in an envelope, and that was all."

Another victim, B, was also exploited at the salt farm for decades before being sent to a facility operated by Park in 2015. Since then, B has been moved between the nursing hospital and church under Park's management.

Although basic living allowances and health insurance refunds were regularly deposited into B's account, B maintains that most of the spending at restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets had nothing to do with him personally.

B also suggested that there may be additional victims.

B said, "There were quite a few people from the salt farm at the nursing hospital, but most of them have passed away. I believe about four remain."

There is growing speculation that, in addition to A and B, more people may have suffered similar harm. However, since many of them are legally incompetent, reporting the crimes or pursuing legal action is extremely difficult.

This is why a comprehensive investigation by the police and local authorities is necessary.

Multiple attempts were made to contact Park for comment on these allegations, but he could not be reached.

Meanwhile, Park is known to have operated nursing hospitals in Jeonju and Buk-gu, Gwangju, and reportedly began running the Ilgok-dong hospital together with his son-in-law at the end of 2022.

Notably, Park is a former pastor who has run a church in Usan-dong, Gwangsan-gu. In 2022, Gwangsan-gu authorities confirmed that a large number of legally incompetent individuals were residing at the church and ordered its closure, citing potential violations of the National Basic Living Security Act.