[Edaily Reporter Nam Soyeon ] It has been revealed that six years ago, the government paid the medical expenses for Ms. Choi Seo-won (formerly

), who was serving a prison sentence in connection with the Park Geun-hye administration’s state affairs manipulation scandal, but has still not been reimbursed.

According to data obtained by the office of independent lawmaker Jang Gyeong-tae from the Ministry of Justice on the 1st, the Seoul Eastern Detention Center used budget funds to pay 39.27 million won on October 19, 2020, to cover Ms. Choi’s medical expenses at an external medical facility.

Since Ms. Choi was unable to pay the hospitalization costs at the time of her incarceration—citing financial reasons such as the payment of forfeited assets—the government advanced the funds.
The problem is that the statute of limitations for this debt has already expired.
According to a JTBC report, it was not until last November—after the Lee Jae-myung administration took office—that a lawsuit was filed against Mr. Choi to recover the costs.
Under the National Finance Act, the state’s monetary claims expire if not exercised within five years.
Unless there are separate grounds for the interruption or suspension of the statute of limitations, it is possible that the statute of limitations on the claim for reimbursement against Mr. Choi has already expired.
In response, the Ministry of Justice stated that it had instructed the Regional Correctional Office to investigate the matter to verify the facts and had also directed the Seoul Eastern Detention Center to take legal action, such as filing a lawsuit.
Mr. Choi, a central figure in the corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye, was sentenced in June 2020 to 18 years in prison, a fine of 20 billion won, and forfeiture of 6.3 billion won on charges including abuse of authority, obstruction of the exercise of rights, and obstruction of business.
Ms. Choi, who has been serving her sentence in prison, reportedly received a suspension of her sentence due to deteriorating health and is currently receiving treatment at an outside hospital.
Meanwhile, Ms. Choi’s daughter, Jung Yoo-ra, posted on her Facebook page last July, stating that she had received a claim from the government for tens of millions of won in hospital expenses and requested donations.
Ms. Jeong stated, “Ten years ago, the government—which had promised to cover the costs resulting from the prison’s shoddy construction and asked us not to sue—is now seeking reimbursement for 10 years’ worth of medical bills,” she argued. “I was already paying off the claim for five years’ worth of medical bills as funds became available, but now they’re even seeking reimbursement for bills from 10 years ago. I don’t know what they want me to do—are they trying to kill me?”