Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
Research foundation seeks evidence for Jeonbuk university spending
South Korea’s National Research Foundation is reviewing spending by an energy program at Jeonbuk National University.
In May, it checked the program’s spending and asked the university to explain some items.
The foundation later requested more evidence for 564 of 691 spending items, worth about 1.15 billion won.
Some questions concern equipment, building improvements and materials, including a case where a quoted price was nearly seven times the amount charged.
The university’s own audit found some potentially improper spending, and it reported the program director to investigators and sought repayment of 35.04 million won.
The foundation has not confirmed research-fund misuse; it is still seeking explanations, while a lawmaker called for a full review of the university’s spending controls.
The Korea Research Foundation is seeking further evidence for spending by a Jeonbuk National University program.
It requested additional documents for 564 of 691 spending items, worth about 1.15 billion won.
The spending included equipment, facility improvements and materials, whose connection to the program the foundation asked the university to substantiate.
The foundation has not confirmed research-fund misuse, according to lawmaker Kim Moon-soo’s office.
The university says its own audit found some suspected improper spending and that it reported the program head to investigative authorities.
- Who
- The Korea Research Foundation and Jeonbuk National University’s Energy New Industry Innovation Convergence University program.
- What
- The foundation is seeking additional evidence for spending items. The claims of improper spending have not been confirmed.
- When
- The foundation conducted an on-site inspection in May. The report was published on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- Jeonbuk National University in Jeonju, South Korea.
- Why
- The foundation asked the university to provide documents showing that the spending was related to the program.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Korea Research Foundation conducted an on-site inspection of the program’s spending and requested an initial explanation.
The university submitted explanatory documents, and the foundation requested additional evidence for 564 of 691 spending items.
The university’s own audit identified some suspected improper spending, and it reported the program head to investigative authorities.
Yonhap reported that the foundation was seeking further evidence.
- Items requiring additional evidence
- 564 of 691
- Value of those items
- About 1.15 billion won
- Equipment spending reported by the university
- About 680 million won
- Facility improvement spending reported by the university
- About 290 million won
- Materials spending reported by the university
- About 140 million won
- Amount the university sought from the program head
- 35.04 million won
1 source
What people are saying
Jeonbuk National University recorded the lowest grade, Grade 5, four times and Grade 4 eight times in the past 12 years in integrity assessments.
The university should disclose the status of implementing audit measures and comprehensively review its systems for managing personnel costs and project funds in state-funded programs.