US Scientist Receiving '300 Million Won Monthly' Support from China Hidden... House Arrest and Fine Imposed

Renowned US Scientist Mentioned as Nobel Prize Candidate
Concealed Participation in Chinese Talent Recruitment Program
6-Month House Arrest and $50,000 Fine Imposed

Amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, a prominent American scientist who was also mentioned as a Nobel Prize candidate has been criminally punished by a U.S. court for hiding the fact that he received nearly 30 million won per month from China and participated in the Chinese government's talent recruitment program.

Former Harvard Professor Charles River Collaborated with the Chinese Government and Received Money
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

On the 26th (local time), according to major foreign media, the U.S. Boston Federal District Court sentenced Charles Lee, former chair of Harvard University's Chemistry and Biology Department, to six months of house arrest and a fine of $50,000 (approximately 67 million won).

In 2011, Lee received $50,000 per month from Wuhan University of Technology in China and participated in the Chinese government's talent recruitment program aimed at acquiring advanced research achievements from foreign scientists. While it is not illegal for American scientists to participate in Chinese talent recruitment programs, scientists receiving U.S. government research funding must disclose their relationships with foreign governments. However, Lee concealed his ties to China and did not report the money he received to tax authorities.

In addition to the $50,000 monthly payment, China paid Lee $158,000 (approximately 210 million won). According to prosecutors, the Chinese government paid Lee the promised amount in $100 bills and also set up a local bank account for him in China.

The court also ordered Lee to pay taxes. The unpaid taxes Lee omitted from his report amount to $33,600 (approximately 45 million won).

However, the court's decision to sentence him to house arrest instead of imprisonment appears to have taken into account that Lee is currently battling cancer.

In court that day, Lee stated, "I regret what I have done and will take responsibility."

Meanwhile, during former President Donald Trump's administration, the U.S. government focused on identifying scholars funded by China, aiming to block China from stealing America's core technologies.

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