Hwang Ilbong, Former President of May 18 Injured Victims Association, Receives Suspended Sentence for Corporate Card Misuse

34 Unauthorized Transactions During Suspension
Unpaid Government Grants Taken Into Consideration

Hwang Ilbong, former president of the Association of Injured Victims of the May 18 Democratization Movement, who had been indicted on charges including the private misuse of the organization's corporate credit card while suspended from his position, received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial. However, the court acquitted the executives and members accused of obstruction of work during internal strife at the association, stating that the legitimacy of the acting president system at the time was not proven.

On May 21, Park Kyunghwan, the presiding judge of Criminal Division 7 at the Gwangju District Court, sentenced former president Hwang, who was indicted for occupational breach of trust, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and a fine of 5 million won. Another member of the organization who was indicted alongside Hwang for special intimidation received the same sentence: six months in prison, suspended for two years.

Gwangju District Court Building.

However, all 11 of the 14 former executives and members of the association who appeared in court that day, and who had also been indicted for obstruction of work, were found not guilty.

Former president Hwang was indicted on charges of failing to return the organization's corporate card during his suspension by board resolution and using it 34 times for a total of 6.32 million won between November and December 2023. At the time, the association, which had transitioned to a statutory organization, was undergoing severe factional conflict over executive appointments. Hwang justified his actions by stating that he could not recognize the acting president system.

The remaining defendants were put on trial for obstructing the work of the vice president, who was acting as president during Hwang's suspension.

The court acknowledged Hwang's occupational breach of trust. Judge Park stated, "The defendant has admitted to his actions and is reflecting on them. The victimized organization does not wish to pursue punishment, and some actions were taken for the operation of the organization." However, he also explained, "It was taken into consideration that the damages, which involved government subsidies and grants, have not been repaid."

However, regarding the members' obstruction of work charges, the court acquitted them, stating that the non-executive vice president who performed the duties of acting president at the time could not be regarded as a legitimate acting president. The ruling indicated that, since the acting president system was not legally established, it was difficult to judge that legitimate work had been obstructed. Accordingly, the part of Hwang's charges related to obstruction of the acting president's work was also found not guilty due to lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, the court decided to hold a separate sentencing hearing for the remaining three defendants, who did not appear in court due to health reasons, on May 28.

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