Police Raid Saekdongwon Over Alleged Misuse of 1 Billion Won in Subsidies

Formally booked on additional charge of occupational embezzlement after preliminary inquiry

The police have launched a compulsory investigation into Saekdongwon, a facility for people with severe disabilities located in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, over alleged misappropriation of subsidies.

According to the police on February 20, the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Team at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been conducting searches and seizures since 9 a.m. the same day at the residence of Kim, the director of Saekdongwon, as well as at the Saekdongwon facility building and other locations.

Kim, the director of Saekdongwon, a residential facility for people with severe disabilities who is accused of forcing sexual intercourse or other similar sexual acts on female residents with disabilities under the pretext of providing life guidance (charges include rape of a protected person with a disability under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and assault under the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act), was leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 19th after completing a warrant hearing. Yonhap News

The police additionally applied the charge of occupational embezzlement against Kim and are investigating whether Saekdongwon properly executed about 1 billion won per year in subsidies and disability benefits. The allegation of subsidy misappropriation had initially been under preliminary investigation before formal booking, but after confirming related suspicions, the police formally booked the case.

This is the first search and seizure conducted in connection with the alleged misappropriation of subsidies. Previously, in relation to allegations including sexual violence by Kim, the police carried out searches and seizures at Saekdongwon and other locations in September last year.

Kim was taken into custody the previous day on charges including rape of a protected person with a disability under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. He is accused of forcing sexual intercourse or similar sexual acts on women with disabilities under the pretext of providing life guidance.