Given 700,000 won a month on corporate cards, they bought Pokémon and CSAT prep books... Public institution executives’ “waste of taxpayer money”

[Financial News] Non-standing members of the Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB) were found to have made bulk purchases of Pokémon figures, CSAT workbooks, and other items using “work-related materials purchasing expenses” (corporate cards).
According to MoneyToday on the 12th, documents submitted by the KMRB showed that members of its 7th and 8th terms spent 70.61 million won over the past eight years (2018–2024) using corporate cards intended for purchasing work materials. The documents were provided to Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee representing Seoul’s Songpa B district.
A review of corporate-card transactions by Committee Member A, who reported spending around 20 million won on work-related materials, found that the purchases included items unrelated to work, such as “Pokémon figures,” “gaming mice,” and “CSAT workbooks.”
The KMRB provides corporate cards for expenses related to performing official duties, with a monthly card limit of 1 million won for the vice chair and 700,000 won for ordinary members. However, it has been criticized for effectively leaving card use unchecked without properly reviewing purchase records.
If a public institution’s corporate card is improperly made available for use by a third party, or the purpose of its use is falsely reported, those responsible may face criminal liability, including for occupational embezzlement or fraud, depending on the specific circumstances and whether there was intent.
Rep. Bae criticized the practice, saying, “There have even been cases of executives at public institutions using position-related expenses to buy Pokémon. This goes beyond being appalling and shows a serious moral hazard in the management of agency budgets.” She added, “We will thoroughly determine whether the funds were misused and ensure those responsible face serious legal consequences, rather than letting them off with repayment.”
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