Court " Taean oil spill damage victim groups must return 280 billion won in restoration funds"

A South Korean court has ruled that two organizations, the 서해안연합회 (Sea Coast Union) foundation and the 허베이사회적협동조합 (Hebei Social Cooperative), must return approximately 2.8 trillion won in funds intended for victim compensation and regional development following the 2007 oil spill off the coast of Taean, Chungcheongnam-do. The funds, donated by 삼성중공업 (Samsung Heavy Industries) in 2016, were meant for public interest projects but were largely used for operational expenses and employee salaries.

The court ordered the foundation to pay 100.1 billion won and the cooperative to pay 185.0 billion won to 사랑의열매 사회복지공동모금회 (Love the Heart Social Welfare Community Foundation).