'Former KOICA Standing Director Arrested and Indicted for Receiving Hundreds of Millions and Favoritism in Personnel'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] A former executive director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), who is accused of receiving money and goods from KOICA employees in exchange for personnel favors, has been indicted while in custody.

According to the prosecution, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Seo Hyun-wook) indicted former KOICA executive director Song (60) on the 21st on charges of accepting bribes worth several hundred million won and granting personnel favors.

The prosecution stated that from February 2018 to December 2020, Song, who concurrently served as the chairperson of KOICA's personnel committee, is accused of requesting and embezzling approximately 412 million won from dozens of KOICA employees and acquaintances by borrowing the money interest-free and without a fixed repayment period.

The prosecution considers all borrowing opportunities and financial benefits received by Song as bribes.

They have also found that Song adjusted the criteria for calculating promotion evaluation scores to promote employees who gave bribes and applied salary increases exceeding the maximum annual raise rate, among other various personnel privileges.

Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection had requested an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office into KOICA's personnel corruption suspicions at the end of last year.

Meanwhile, on the 3rd, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office conducted a search and seizure of KOICA and Koworks offices and arrested former executive director Song the following day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.