Academy Director Arrested for Delaying Classes and Pocketing Tuition Fees Using COVID-19 as an Excuse

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The head of a private academy for college entrance exams, who disappeared after collecting a year's worth of tuition fees in advance from students, has been arrested.

On the 15th, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul announced that they had arrested Park Mo (55) on charges of fraud.

Park, who runs a private academy located in Songpa-gu, is accused of receiving tuition fees in advance from about 20 students between January and February but not actually conducting classes.

Park held 2 to 3 classes but postponed lessons citing the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as an excuse, and disappeared in March, according to the investigation.

After about three months on the run, he was arrested by the police on the 10th. The police applied for an arrest warrant for Park, and the court issued the warrant on the 12th.

The police are also investigating two other individuals involved in running the academy on charges of fraud without detention.

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