Police suspect ‘Molar Daddy’ of donation embezzlement

Police said Tuesday that they are looking into whether Lee Young-hak, dubbed “Molar Daddy” and arrested for allegedly murdering his daughter’s 14-year-old friend, misappropriated donations raised for his ailing daughter. 

According to police, which analyzed Lee and his family’s records of financial transactions, Lee had received donations worth 1.3 billion won ($1.15 million) from the public between 2005 and 2017. But he used only 160 million won for his daughter’s medical expenses.
 

For years, Lee had received donations from the public because he suffered a rare, autosomal dental tumor and his daughter had the same condition. Lee was dubbed “Molar Daddy” because he had lost all his teeth except for one molar due to repeated surgeries to remove outgrowing bones.

Police suspect that Lee used the rest of the donations to support an alleged lavish lifestyle, not for his daughter’s medical treatment. Lee, who did not have a stable job and income, reportedly owned several foreign cars.

Police are also looking into allegations that Lee had abused his wife, who took her own life last month. They brought in for questioning the men who appeared in sex videos on his mobile phones and computers they confiscated, and are said to have obtained evidence that Lee forced his wife to sell sex.

Lee was arrested on charges of murder, sexual harassment and body abandonment. He admitted to killing his daughter’s friend at his home in eastern Seoul and disposing of the body on a mountain this month. He allegedly invited her over to satisfy his sexual urges and accidentally killed her as she strongly resisted. His daughter also admitted to assisting her father in abandoning the body.

The case has shocked the public, especially since Lee had been depicted as a loving and caring father by the media since 2006. Numerous media reports have reported on potential evidence and testimonies that hint at his alleged luxurious lifestyle, obsession with teenagers and distorted sexual desire.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)