KAIST , South Korea ’ s top science and technology university , on Friday decided to delay its decision on dismissing its incumbent President Shin Sung - chul , who has been accused by the government of mishandling public funds during his previous post at another university . KAIST ’ s board said it will reconsider the dismissal of the president at the next board meeting , given the gravity of the issue and continued dispute over the accusations by the Ministry of Science and ICT . The ministry alleges that Shin mishandled public funds while serving as the president of the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology from 2011 to 2017 , before joining KAIST . KAIST President Shin Sung - chul ( KAIST ) The allegations center on DGIST ’ s payments to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California , as part of a deal in which scientists at Korean universities were given access to one of LBNL ’ s imaging equipment . The Science Ministry asserts that the payments -- 2 . 2 billion won ( $ 1 . 9 million ) -- were not a part of a 2012 agreement between DGIST and LBNL and were transferred in a separate arrangement , violating regulations . The ministry also alleges that some of the money was paid to an individual who was a former student of Shin ’ s , in what could amount to embezzlement . It has referred the case to the prosecution and asked KAIST to dismiss Shin . Shin has denied the accusations , and the science community has acted in support of Shin . On Monday , the LBNL sent a letter to the ministry explaining that the agreement was legally executed . KAIST ’ s physics department , where Shin worked from 1989 to 2011 , has also drawn up a petition claiming that moves to dismiss the president lack due process as they are based on unproven accusations and an ongoing investigation that has yet to conclude . Some researchers view the KAIST case as a part of a political purge against public science institutions by the Moon Jae - in administration . Shin assumed his post under former President Park Geun - hye , who was impeached and imprisoned for corruption , abuse of power and embezzlement . By Sohn Ji - young ( jys @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >