Supreme Court Confirms Probation for Monk Ji-hong in Embezzlement of Temple Kindergarten Funds

by Choi Sukjin

Published 27 May.2021 19:23(KST)

Supreme Court, Seocho-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Ji-hong, a former head of the Jogye Order's Propagation Center who was prosecuted for embezzling funds from a temple kindergarten, has had his suspended prison sentence upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Min Yoo-sook) announced on the 27th that it dismissed Ji-hong's appeal in the final trial on charges of embezzlement in the course of duty and violation of the Private School Act, thereby confirming the lower court's sentence of 8 months imprisonment with a 2-year suspension.

The court stated, "There is no error in the legal reasoning of the lower court's judgment."

Ji-hong, who served as the founder of Bulgwangsa Temple, was prosecuted for embezzling approximately 180 million won over five years from 2013 while serving as a non-executive director at a kindergarten affiliated with Bulgwangsa, receiving several million won monthly under the pretext of salary.

Ji-hong's defense argued during the trial that "the payments received from the kindergarten were legitimate wages for labor," denying the embezzlement charges. However, the first trial recognized the charges of embezzlement and sentenced him to 10 months imprisonment with a 2-year suspension.

The appellate court also found him guilty of embezzlement but reduced the sentence to 8 months imprisonment with a 2-year suspension, considering factors such as full restitution of the embezzled amount and it being his first offense.

The Supreme Court agreed with the appellate court's judgment.