By Na Jeong-ju
The head pastor at Somang Presbyterian Church, one of the country’s largest churches, is being investigated for alleged involvement in embezzlement, prosecutors said Monday.
The prosecution launched the probe after receiving a complaint from a group of churchgoers alleging that Kim Jie-chul, 64, has misappropriated billions of won in church funds through irregular deals since becoming the church’s head pastor in 2003.
Somang, where President Lee Myung-bak served as an elder for years until last year, is just one of a number of churches embroiled in ugly internal conflicts over assets. Early last year, Kim was assaulted by two vice pastors, who were reportedly disgruntled at the way Kim managed the church.
According to the complaint, Kim allegedly pocketed some 2.4 billion won ($2.12 million) when the church purchased land in 2004 to build a new chapel. The church paid 5.4 billion won for the site, but reported to the ward office that it cost 3 billion won.
The group also alleged that the church inflated construction costs when it renovated church facilities in 2008. “The church overpaid the firms, which were chosen by Kim. This suggests that he might have taken bribes from them,” the complaint said.
Kim is also suspected of having sold property owned by the church on Jeju Island, worth some 1.3 billion won, without obtaining consent from other pastors.
Prosecutors said they will issue a summons to Kim soon to investigate these allegations.
The church dismissed the claims as “baseless,” alleging that the church’s founder and former head pastor Kwak Sun-hee is behind the allegations. Kim’s aides said Kwak is attempting to shake Kim’s leadership in order to help his son succeed Kim as head pastor.
Church insiders say there have been a number of brawls between worshippers and pastors in recent years. Some believers have called on the church to improve transparency in managing church assets.
Christian churches have often been the targets of public criticism for misappropriating funds. Cho Yong-gi, pastor and founder of the Yeouido Full Gospel Church, the country’s largest church, and his family members have been criticized for allegedly privatizing the church’s assets.