Professor at Chonnam National University 'Embezzling Government Subsidies,' Police Investigation Underway

Professors from Chonnam National University and others are under police investigation for allegedly embezzling billions of won in subsidies while operating a regional hub project team supported by the government.

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 23rd that they have booked Professor A from Chonnam National University without detention on charges including violation of the Act on the Management of Subsidies and are conducting an investigation.

Professor A, who served as the head of the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Innovation Platform' project team (Chonnam National University) organized by the Ministry of Education, is suspected of illegally embezzling 3.3 billion won in subsidies.

The projects in question include the establishment of an energy self-sufficient livestock circular future agriculture platform through green energy (Smart Farm), and the XR technology advancement demonstration project for energy creative convergence extended reality (XR) education and hardware platform technology enhancement.

During the execution of these projects, it appears that Professor A colluded with participating companies to falsify project plans and inspection confirmation documents to embezzle subsidies.

It was also found that a finger motion recognition glove system, which had already been commercialized, was falsely presented as newly developed to receive subsidies.

In addition to Professor A, numerous company officials and university personnel have been questioned as witnesses and some have been reclassified as suspects, with the number of booked individuals possibly exceeding ten.

After receiving intelligence on the matter, the police conducted a first raid on the 17th and plan to focus their investigation on the two projects suspected of subsidy embezzlement.

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