[Breaking] Gwangju Buk-gu Requests Investigation into Nursing Hospital Staff over Alleged Misappropriation of Living Allowances

Evidence of 3 Million Won Withdrawals and Deposits Per Patient for Six Individuals
Some Victims Deceased or Survivors of Forced Labor at Salt Farms

A view of the nursing hospital in Samgak-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, suspected of embezzling money by hospitalizing victims of forced labor at Sinan salt farms. Photo by Min Chanki

Buk-gu district, which is investigating allegations of misappropriation of basic living allowances for legally incompetent individuals at a nursing hospital in Gwangju, has discovered evidence of third-party misuse and has requested a police investigation.

On December 1, Buk-gu district announced that it had detected unauthorized withdrawals under the name of an individual identified as Park, who was not designated as a benefits manager, from the basic living allowance accounts of six patients-including three legally incompetent individuals-admitted to a local nursing hospital, and has requested an investigation by the Bukbu Police Station.

Buk-gu district began its investigation at the end of last month after allegations surfaced that a staff member at the nursing hospital had been siphoning off basic living allowances from legally incompetent individuals over an extended period.

The investigation found that, from the end of 2023 through the second half of this year, approximately 3 million won was repeatedly withdrawn under Park's name from the accounts of six individuals and then re-deposited.

Of these six individuals, one has already passed away, and four are known to be victims of forced labor at Sinan salt farms.

Based on legal counsel, Buk-gu district concluded that since Park later deposited the same amount as the withdrawn basic living allowance, the actions do not constitute embezzlement or extortion. However, the district intends to clarify through the police investigation exactly how the withdrawals and deposits were conducted.

Buk-gu district has also decided to request an investigation into Elder Lim from a church in Usan-dong, Gwangsan-gu, who was designated by the legally incompetent individuals as the manager of their basic living allowances, on the grounds that he failed to properly manage the accounts.

Since last year, the legally incompetent individuals have been residing at the nursing hospital and receiving basic living allowances of around 500,000 won. Buk-gu district believes that after using the funds for living expenses, an individual identified as A misappropriated the remaining 100,000 to 200,000 won from their allowances.

A Buk-gu district official stated, "The very fact that there are withdrawal and deposit records under someone else's name during the management of these allowances is itself a problem."