Police give Kim Dae-jung non-indictment decision over casino gambling

Kim Dae-jung, Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City Education Director, has received a non-indictment decision from police regarding allegations of casino gambling during an official trip.

Police Findings on the Casino Gambling Allegations

The inquiry stemmed from accusations raised during the 6·3 local elections, where critics alleged that Kim had visited a hotel casino while on official business in Vietnam during his previous tenure as Jeonnam education chief.

Investigators examined the duration of the visit and the financial transactions involved. Police determined that Kim’s time inside the casino was brief and the amount used totaled between 10,000 and 30,000 won. Based on these metrics, law enforcement classified the activity as casual entertainment rather than a criminal gambling offense. Authorities similarly dismissed a separate allegation claiming the superintendent attempted to silence a key figure with a 10 billion won hush money payment, finding no evidence to support the claim.

Civic Reaction and Calls for Accountability

Following the announcement, a civic group known as Citizens’ Group for a Society Without Academic Records issued a statement arguing that a non-indictment ruling does not erase the ethical and moral obligations expected of a high-ranking public official.

The organization emphasized that confirming a casino visit during an official public overseas trip warrants introspection and a public accounting of the explanations given during the election campaign.

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