The Diocese of Seoul has suspended a senior priest after they allegedly embezzled 320 million won (approximately $225,000) from diocesan coffers.
The Korean media reports the diocese dismissed the unnamed priest last month after it was discovered that they allegedly syphoned money into an unregistered bank account. The matter has been turned over to the police for investigation. The suspended priest was responsible for the diocese’s social and mission related programs.
Suspicions were raised after an audit found three bank accounts in the diocese’s name that were not known to diocesan officials. The discovery came in September following the installation of the Rt. Rev. Kim Jang-hwan Elijah as the seventh bishop of Seoul. The new bishop requested an audit of the diocese’s books, prompting the discovery. The diocese has formed a special investigation committee to investigate whether other officials who were in charge of management and supervision of the suspended priest were involved in the defalcation.
The Seoul Diocese reports the suspended priest has returned a portion of the funds after the alleged theft was discovered. An diocesan official told local media, “We failed to fulfill our management and supervision responsibilities. I feel ashamed of the priest’s misconduct,” he said.
The bishop has “set up a special investigation committee to deal with it so that there are no doubts left.”
