Kim Yong-hee, Former Chairman of Han-eo-chong, Faces 'Legislative Lobbying and Embezzlement' Followed by 'Accounting Book Manipulation'

Obstruction of Business Charges

On the 27th, at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim Yong-hee, the chairman, is speaking at the 2nd emergency government press conference held by the Korean Childcare Association's emergency committee to protect the rights of infants and childcare workers. Through the press conference, the emergency committee urged the establishment of a feasible rest time system for childcare staff, the realization and legal basis for the current low Nuri Curriculum support funds compared to kindergarten students, and the calculation and support of childcare fees reflecting minimum wage increases and inflation. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Kim Yonghee, former president of the Korea Association of Childcare Centers (Han-eo-gong), who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for giving political funds to current and former members of the National Assembly and their aides, has now been found guilty in the first trial for manipulating accounting books.

On the 15th, Judge Jang Young-chae of the Criminal Division 2 at the Seoul Western District Court announced that Kim, who was indicted on charges of obstruction of business, was fined 2 million won on the 7th.

From June 2017 to May 2020, while serving as president of Han-eo-gong, Kim was charged with instructing accounting staff to fabricate records as if unpaid central membership fees had been paid multiple times. It was found that when Kim learned in 2019 that Mr. A, affiliated with the association, had not paid central membership fees for three years and thus was ineligible to run for election, he fabricated accounting books and issued payment confirmation certificates to create eligibility for the presidential election.

Kim is also accused of arbitrarily changing the payment date of central membership fees for Mr. B, affiliated with the association, in February 2020, making it appear as if Mr. B had paid central membership fees continuously for 10 years. Members who maintain their membership for more than 10 years by paying central membership fees are granted the right to run for election.

Meanwhile, in November last year, Kim was sentenced in the first trial to six months in prison with a two-year probation for violating the Political Funds Act by giving illegal political funds to current and former members of the National Assembly and their aides, and six months in prison for embezzlement of public funds. Kim has appealed, and the appellate court ruling is scheduled for the 21st.

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