Chairperson Lee Jin-sook of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has been sent to the prosecution on charges of embezzlement. The case stems from allegations that she misused her corporate credit card while serving as the president of Daejeon MBC. The Daejeon Yuseong Police Station announced today, September 19, that they have transferred Lee to the prosecution on charges of occupational breach of trust.

The investigation began after a formal complaint was filed in July of last year by members of the Democratic Party of Korea on the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee. Several civil society organizations, including the National Media Workers' Union and the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media, also filed separate complaints regarding the same matter.

The allegations claim that between March 2015 and January 2018, during her tenure as Daejeon MBC president, Lee Jin-sook used her corporate credit card for personal expenses, causing financial loss to the company. According to the civil society groups, Lee made 1,157 personal transactions totaling 142.79 million Korean won (approximately $105,000 USD) with the corporate card. A key part of the accusation is that many of these transactions were made in locations near her residence in Seoul, not in Daejeon where her workplace was located.

The allegations also highlight specific types of expenditures as questionable, including purchases of expensive wine, and payments made at golf clubs and hotels, all under the guise of business entertainment. To verify these claims, the police conducted a thorough investigation, including four summons for Lee after July and search and seizure operations at Daejeon MBC and various card transaction locations.

A police official stated that the decision to transfer the case to the prosecution was based on a comprehensive review of the corporate card usage records. They considered the relevance of the expenses to her duties as CEO, adherence to corporate spending procedures, and the submission of proper documentation after each transaction. The official noted that the extensive nature of the investigation and the time elapsed since the alleged incidents contributed to the significant time it took to conclude the police probe.

During a National Assembly committee meeting on September 2, Lee Jin-sook was asked about her potential responsibility if the private use of the corporate card was confirmed. She responded, "I will have to take legal responsibility, but this will be revealed through the police investigation. I have never used it for personal purposes." With the case now in the hands of the prosecution, Lee faces a potentially lengthy legal battle that could have significant implications for her position as head of the KCC. The police have pledged to cooperate fully with the prosecution to ensure a successful indictment.

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