Prosecutors subpoena president of HUFS

Prosecutors in Seoul said yesterday that they have subpoenaed the president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to investigate allegations that he misappropriated 106 million won ($100,796).

The investigation comes after the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology found that the university gave 106 million won to Park Chul for “publicity” without any spending records. The ministry’s probe was first prompted by a report in the Hankyoreh.

Ministry officials, believing that Park misappropriated the money for personal use, turned the case over to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office.

The university’s public relations office defended Park, telling the JoongAng Ilbo that the funds he is accused of pocketing was the school’s publicity budget for four years.

HUFS added that most of that money was used to purchase gift cards for employees, making receipt submissions impossible.

Following the allegation, the university’s student council requested Park’s resignation, but he rejected.

“It is a malicious assertion from opposing forces who are trying to smear the university,” Park said.

The school’s faculty have raised suspicions that Park has tried to forge documents to avoid punishment.

“Park and the executive board are trying to fabricate evidence by pressing professors and faculty members to confirm receiving gift cards from the university,” the faculty association’s emergency committee said last month after prosecutors announced a probe.

Park was appointed president in 2006 and was re-elected to serve another four years.

By Yim Seung-hye [sharon@joongang.co.kr]

한글 관련 기사 [연합뉴스]

검찰, 박철 한국외대 총장 소환 통보

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.