'Team Leader of NHIS Arrested and Sent to Trial While in Custody for Embezzling 4.6 Billion Won and Fleeing Abroad'

Prosecutors Plan Additional Investigation into Remaining Embezzled Funds Usage and Escape Process

The suspect in the largest embezzlement case ever recorded at the National Health Insurance Service has been brought to trial while in custody.

On the 13th, the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Wonju Branch announced that Choi (46) was indicted in custody on charges of embezzlement, forgery of electronic records, and use of forged electronic records under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.

Choi is accused of embezzling a total of 4.6 billion KRW while serving as the head of the financial management team at the National Health Insurance Service.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Between April and September 2022, he manipulated the internal computer network of the National Health Insurance Service 18 times to embezzle a total of 4.6 billion KRW and then fled overseas. It was revealed that the embezzled funds were converted into cryptocurrency to conceal the criminal proceeds.

The National Health Insurance Service reported Choi to the police in September 2022 and proceeded with civil lawsuits to seize and collect funds from accounts, recovering about 720 million KRW out of the 4.6 billion KRW embezzled last year.

The police identified that Choi had fled to the Philippines and issued an Interpol Red Notice.

At the same time, a tracking team composed of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, the Korean Desk (a police unit specializing in cases involving Koreans abroad), and the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency Interpol team pursued Choi for 1 year and 4 months, finally arresting him at a luxury resort in Manila on the 9th of last month.

Choi was repatriated to Korea on the 17th of the same month and faced the press, admitting to the embezzlement charges but remaining silent about the whereabouts of the stolen money. He also claimed sole responsibility for the crime and said, "I am sorry to the company and the people."

During the police investigation, Choi stated that he "lost all the remaining money in gift investments."

Meanwhile, investigations revealed that Choi committed the crime to repay debts and invest in cryptocurrency after incurring significant liabilities due to failed cryptocurrency investments.

The prosecution plans to continue additional investigations into the use of the remaining embezzled funds and the escape process, while also focusing on recovering the criminal proceeds.

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