HUFS chief probed over misuse of funds

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies President Park Chul has received a summons from prosecutors on suspicion that he may have misappropriated school funds for personal use.

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office issued the summons to Park last week but Park hasn’t responded, an official from the prosecutors’ office said.

Park, also chairman of the Korean Council for Presidents of Private Universities, is suspected of embezzling about 106 million won (a little more than $100,000) from the school’s public relations fee and other expenditures.

Prosecutors are expected to focus their probe on the missing receipts of the amount and speculation that he favored a certain contractor in a school construction project.

The Education Ministry filed a complaint against the university chief after its audits last year found traces of irregularities.

Park’s challenge of the audit findings in March was dismissed by the education authorities.

The prosecutors recently found that Park purchased about 100 million won worth of gift cards, and are trying to track them.

A university official said the university is trying to “get the drift of the summons.”

Prosecutors had summoned several school officials from late May to early June this year in connection with the president’s alleged misuse of school funds.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)