[Exclusive] UN-Habitat Korean Committee indicted on suspicion of receiving 2.9 billion won in donations by impersonating UN body

This case involving the UN-Habitat Korean Committee raises serious questions about the integrity of charitable organizations and the potential for misuse of public trust, particularly when leveraging the prestige of international bodies like the United Nations. As reported by Hankyoreh, the indictment of the committee's representative and the organization itself for allegedly collecting nearly 3 billion won under false pretenses strikes at the heart of accountability in the non-profit sector.

The core of the issue lies in the committee's alleged impersonation of a UN-affiliated body without proper authorization from UN-Habitat headquarters. This practice, if proven, is not only a legal violation but also a betrayal of the donors who contributed in good faith, believing their funds were supporting legitimate UN initiatives. The prosecution's focus on the embezzlement and donation collection law violations highlights the financial irregularities and the deceptive means employed to solicit funds.

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The UN-Habitat Korean Committee impersonated a subordinate organization of the UN-Habitat without a basic agreement with the UN-Habitat headquarters and received donations amounting to 4.4 billion won over the past four years.

Notably, the decision by the police to not indict former lawmaker Park Soo-hyun on fraud charges, citing that the committee's representative was the primary operator, introduces a layer of complexity. While this may absolve Park of direct criminal liability for the alleged fraud, the controversy surrounding the committee's operations and its initial establishment, which he chaired, remains a significant point of public interest. The subsequent cancellation of the committee's corporate status by the National Assembly Secretariat and the ongoing legal proceedings underscore the gravity of the allegations and the need for thorough investigation and justice.

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The UN-Habitat Korean Committee consulted with UN-Habitat from the preparation stage of its establishment, received recognition for its establishment, and carried out cooperative projects. We never impersonated a UN-affiliated organization.