Overview
- Reports say the branch manager of a Saemaul Geumgo credit union in Gyeongju stole about 70 million won by removing real 50,000‑won notes from the vault over several months.
- The manager allegedly covered the missing cash by stuffing the vault with play‑money notes bought online that showed cartoon characters, a tactic that initially escaped notice.
- A colleague spotted unusual withdrawals and reported them, triggering an internal investigation by the bank that led to the employee's immediate dismissal and reimbursement of the stolen funds.
- The suspect surrendered to police and has been placed under formal criminal investigation and faces prosecution after the bank referred the case to authorities.
- The episode underscores risks at very small retail branches where two‑person staffing and weak segregation of duties can let simple concealment methods hide sustained thefts.