The Death Benefit Embezzled by a Religious Group Leader: Is Legal Action Possible?

A shocking story has emerged about a child who lived solely with their father and had the death benefit from their father's insurance embezzled by a leader of a religious group.

This story was shared on the 23rd via YTN Radio's “Jo In-seop Lawyer’s Consulting Room.”

The protagonist of the story, person A, lost their mother at a young age and has been living with their father. Several years ago, A decided to take out life insurance for their father, who suffered from numerous illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.

Concerned that A would be left alone, the father requested A to take out the insurance, and A directly paid all the premiums while naming themselves as the beneficiary.

However, last winter, the father's health rapidly deteriorated.

A diligently cared for their father while commuting between the hospital and home, but unfortunately, the father passed away.

After the funeral, while sorting through their father's belongings and documents, A discovered a shocking fact.

Three months before his death, the beneficiary of the insurance had been changed from A to the leader of the religious group their father attended, and the full death benefit had already been disbursed.

Suspicious Circumstances and Legal Solutions

The religious group in question was one that the father diligently attended during his lifetime, and A had regarded it merely as a facet of their father's faith. However, suspicious details began to resurface in hindsight.

Even when unwell, the father did not miss attending the religious meetings, and after he became physically incapacitated, members of the congregation frequently visited his home to offer prayers.

A expressed, “I suspect that someone might have had him sign documents without him being in a proper state of judgment. I'm confused and angry that my money was used for the insurance, yet it could be changed like this. Can I really not retrieve the insurance payout that was already received?”

In response, Lawyer Lee Myung-in from Shinsegye Law Firm advised, “A can file a claim for the return of the inheritance share against the religious group leader who received the death benefit.”

The lawyer explained, “Since the change of beneficiary by the decedent, the father, occurred within a year of his death, and A paid the premiums, it can be regarded as a substantial gift, making the claim for the inheritance share valid.”

Image source: Reference photograph for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank