SNU professor found guilty of siphoning off $1.15 million in research funds

A professor at South Korea’s elite Seoul National University (SNU) was convicted of pocketing part of state subsidies for his projects over the past decade. / Korea Times file

By Park Si-soo

A professor at South Korea’s elite Seoul National University (SNU) was convicted of pocketing part of state subsidies for his projects over the past decade.

Seoul Northern District Court sentenced the professor from the university’s chemical and biological engineering department, surnamed Han, to three years’ prison. The court suspended the term for five years after the school pleaded for mercy.

The professor siphoned off 1.26 billion won ($1.15 million) of state funds paid to him since 2008, which was supposed to be paid to his research fellows. He used fake bills and other illegal means to exploit the money. Some was used to buy software programs developed by his company.

“He not just repeated illegal practices that had been used to extort state funds, but also actively developed fresh ways, for which he deserves a heavy punishment,” the court wrote in a ruling statement. “But he expressed deep regret and remorse. And the school begged for mercy and didn’t want him to be punished.”

An SNU official said the professor had fully compensated the school for the loss.