Northeast Asian History Foundation Provides Tens of Millions of Won to Foreign Civic Groups Without Verifying Qualifications

Ministry of Education Announces Comprehensive Audit Results of Foundations

Kim Dohyung, Chairman of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, is responding at the National Assembly Education Committee's audit of the National Institute for Lifelong Education and the Private School Teachers' Pension Service held on the 13th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Northeast Asian History Foundation provided tens of millions of won in support to overseas civic groups without verifying their eligibility, prompting the Ministry of Education to request an investigation.

The Ministry of Education announced on the 10th the results of a comprehensive audit of the Northeast Asian History Foundation conducted over 14 days from April 6.

The audit identified 24 issues, resulting in personnel actions such as warnings and cautions for 71 individuals, 24 administrative actions, and 4 financial measures. The Ministry requested an investigation on charges of obstruction of business related to improper support for overseas civic groups and improper evaluation of civic group support projects.

The Northeast Asian History Foundation provided 30 million won in support funds to two overseas civic groups in Japan without verifying eligibility through the South Korean embassy or consulate. Additionally, for European overseas groups, 66 million won was provided without undergoing a public contest process or confirming whether their articles of association explicitly addressed history or Dokdo and the East Sea through overseas diplomatic missions.

Furthermore, during the evaluation of civic group support projects, contrary to the standards, the highest and lowest scores were not excluded; rankings were calculated and summed based on the average scores of the evaluators, and non-evaluator staff assessed performance scores. As a result, the group ranked 5th was ultimately eliminated at 13th place, while the group ranked 11th finally received support funds at 9th place. The Ministry of Education requested an investigation on charges of obstruction of business against the staff responsible for this work.

It was also revealed that despite including their own prot?g?, the hiring process was conducted and the individual was appointed, and that employees used official mileage points for personal purposes. The foundation changed the regions of overseas dispatched employees without valid reasons and paid special overtime meal allowances without verifying overtime work.

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