President Kim Heondong: "SH Corporation Was Also Defrauded... Complaint Filed with UN-Habitat Korea Committee"

by Kwon Hyeonji

Published 11 Jan.2024 12:01(KST)

SH Corporation has Jointly Promoted Social Contribution Projects for Three Years Since 2020 with an Organization Suspected of Impersonating a UN Agency

President Kim Heon-dong: "With Parliamentary Approval and a Congratulatory Message from Moon, We Had No Suspicion of Impersonation"
Internal Audit Scheduled to Begin

Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) announced that it will file a fraud lawsuit against the United Nations Habitat Korea Committee, which is suspected of impersonating a UN agency to solicit donations. The corporation also plans to conduct a separate internal audit related to the social contribution activities jointly promoted with the organization.

On the 11th, Kim Heon-dong, president of SH Corporation, held a briefing at Seoul City Hall and said, “After conducting various internal legal reviews, we have decided to file a lawsuit against the United Nations Habitat Korea Committee,” adding, “We plan to submit the complaint today.”

From August 2020 to July last year, SH Corporation jointly promoted a social contribution program called 'SH Urban School' with the United Nations Habitat Korea Committee, supporting housing rights education and overseas field trips for youth. On July 6 last year, reports emerged that the United Nations Habitat Korea Committee was a corporation without official accreditation from UN-Habitat, and SH Corporation terminated the business agreement on the 21st of the same month.

President Kim said, “Until the reports, no one doubted that the United Nations Habitat Korea Committee was not a UN agency,” and added, “Based on the photos and project plans received from the organization before the agreement, we had no choice but to believe it was a verified institution.” He cited as evidence that Park Soo-hyun, former secretary to the Speaker of the National Assembly (and former Blue House Public Communication Secretary), served as chairman, that the corporation was approved by the National Assembly, and that it received a presidential congratulatory message at its launch. Kim emphasized, “This is an intolerable act,” and stated, “We believe SH Corporation was also defrauded.”

SH Corporation will also initiate an internal audit to review whether proper verification of the organization was conducted during the agreement process. Kim said, “If there is any legal responsibility, we will naturally take it,” and added, “We plan to investigate other projects soon.” According to SH Corporation, the amount paid to the United Nations Habitat Korea Committee was approximately 398 million KRW.

Kim Heon-dong, President of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation), is holding a briefing on the 11th at Seoul City Hall regarding the accusation against the Korea Committee of UN-Habitat for allegedly impersonating a UN-affiliated organization. Photo by Kwon Hyun-ji