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University chief summoned in graft probe


Prosecutors have summoned Park Chul, president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, to investigate allegations that he may have misappropriated school funds.

The summons was issued last week and Park has yet to respond, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office said on Tuesday.

Park, also chairman of the Korean Council for Presidents of Private Universities, is suspected of embezzling some 106 million won ($100,837) from the school’s public relations and other expenditures between July 2007 and September 2010.

Park was reelected HUFS president in late 2009 for a second term.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology filed a complaint against the leading educator in March after its audits late last year and in February found clues to his irregularity.

Park denied the charges saying that he used the money properly on various school events but failed to keep receipts.

He filed an objection against the audit findings in early April but the educational authorities dismissed it.

Acting on the ministry’s request, the prosecutors have already conducted a preliminary investigation. They traced his bank accounts and found that he purchased more than 100 million won in gift cards. Further investigation will initially focus on how he used them, prosecutors said.

He is also embroiled in a controversy in connection with a school construction project. It is claimed that he may have used his influence to offer inappropriate favors to a certain contractor.





By Jung Eun-jung

(kristin2j@gmail.com)

Intern Reporter





<관련 한글 기사>

검찰, '횡령의혹' 박철 외대총장 소환통보



(서울=연합뉴스) 김효정 기자 = 박철 한국외국어대학교 총장의 교비 횡령 의혹을 수사 중인 서울북부지검 형사6부(김태철 부장검사)는 지난주 박 총장에게 출석하도록 통보했다고 2일 밝혔다.



검찰 관계자는 “지난주 소환 통보를 했지만 박 총장 쪽에서 아직 답이 오지 않았다”고 말했다.



검찰은 교육과학기술부가 감사 결과를 바탕으로 박 총장이 홍보비 등 1억600만원의 교비 회계 예산을 부적절하게 사용했을 가능성이 있다며 수사를 의뢰함에 따라 수사에 착수했다.



검찰은 계좌추적 등을 통해 박 총장이 억대의 상품권을 구입한 사실을 포착, 용처를 집중 추적하는 것으로 알려졌다.



한편 박 총장은 교육과학기술부의 감사 처분에 대해 이의신청을 했지만 최근 기각됐다.
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