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Sun, December 8, 2019 | 16:45
Marriage
Will the maestro stay?
'성희롱·폭언 논란' 박현정 서울시향 대표 사임
Posted : 2014-12-29 17:00
Updated : 2014-12-30 09:37
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Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Park Hyun-jung, center, leaves after announcing her resignation during a press conference at the SPO rehearsal room of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Monday. Park has been embroiled in controversy for sexually and verbally abusing her staff. / Yonhap
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Park Hyun-jung, center, leaves after announcing her resignation during a press conference at the SPO rehearsal room of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Monday. Park has been embroiled in controversy for sexually and verbally abusing her staff.
/ Yonhap

Foul-mouthed Seoul Philharmonic CEO resigns


By Kwon Ji-youn

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Park Hyun-jung, center, leaves after announcing her resignation during a press conference at the SPO rehearsal room of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Monday. Park has been embroiled in controversy for sexually and verbally abusing her staff. / Yonhap
Chung Myung-whun
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) music director Chung Myung-whun is likely to extend his tenure with the nation's top orchestra after its controversial CEO stepped down Monday.

Park Hyun-jung, who has claimed that Chung was the driving force behind a conspiracy to remove her, finally resigned Monday. The announcement came a day ahead of an SPO board meeting scheduled to discuss her removal for allegedly mistreating employees.

Park held a press conference Monday afternoon to confirm that she would be stepping down, effective today.

"I did not keep my post because I was reluctant to give it up," she told reporters at the SPO rehearsal room at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

"It was because I wanted to address the allegations that were made against me, the way it was handled and because I wanted to question the motives and reasons behind them."

With Park's resignations, Chung is expected to stay on as music director, a post he has held for the past ten years.

In a recent meeting with city editors, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said that there was "no alternative" than for Chung to keep advancing the orchestra. Chung's contract is up at the end of the month, and he reportedly said that he could not continue to work with the ensemble unless the CEO was replaced.

Park added that she was bowing out because, as important as restoring her damaged reputation is, she couldn't stand the SPO being managed in such a disorganized and atypical manner.

"I did my best while I was with the SPO," she said. "But I have also made mistakes, for which I apologize."

On Dec. 2, 17 employees of the SPO's administrative department issued a press release requesting Park's removal and an internal investigation into her misconduct. They had alleged that Park had sexually and verbally abused them.

Three days later, Park denied the allegations, and claimed that music director Chung Myung-whun was behind the employees' petition for her dismissal. She also disclosed a number of Chung's alleged offenses.

But the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced on Dec. 24 that they had come to the conclusion that the employees' accusations had been true. Again, Park stressed that the SMG's deduction was a result of distortion, tampering and exaggeration.

Park struck a sour note as the press conference came to a close, expressing resentment toward the press.

"I have been a victim of a media witch hunt," she said. "The media distorted the facts and published unfair and one-sided articles. But I'm leaving all of it behind. The truth will come to light sooner or later."

Park also called on SMG to help the SPO become a sound and transparent organization.

Follow Kwon Ji-youn on Twitter @jennajykwon


'성희롱·폭언 논란' 박현정 서울시향 대표 사임

직원 성희롱, 폭언 논란으로 사퇴 압박을 받아온 서울시립교향악단 박현정 대표가 29일 결국 사임했다.

박 대표는 이날 오후 서울 종로구 세종로 서울시향 연습실에서 긴급 기자회견을 열어 '오늘부로 서울시향 대표직을 사퇴하고자 한다'고 밝혔다.

지난 2일 서울시향 사무국 직원 17명이 박 대표의 성희롱, 폭언 등을 공개적으로 문제 삼고 나선지 27일 만이다.   

박 대표는 '저 개인의 명예회복이 무엇보다 중요하지만, 그 때문에 더이상 세금으로 운영되는 서울시향이 비정상적으로 운영되는 것은 견디기 어려웠다'며 '제가 잘못한 부분도 많았고 이 부분은 진심으로 사과드린다'라고 말했다.

그는 '저도 여러 가지 왜곡과 마녀사냥식 여론몰이로 많이 다쳤고 공정하지 못한 일방적 조사로 많이 힘들었다'며 '억울한 부분도 많지만 힘든 마음은 일단 접고 떠난다. 진실은 언젠가는 밝혀질 것'이라고 주장했다.

그는 '문제가 발생한 후에도 제가 서울시향 대표직을 계속 맡아온 것은 자리에 대한 미련 때문이 결코 아니다'라며 '상황이 진행되는 동안 내용이나 형식, 절차상 문제가 있던 부분을 해명하고 이에 대해 문제를 제기하고자 함이었다'고 덧붙였다.

이달 초 서울시향 직원들의 요청으로 박 대표의 직원 성희롱, 폭언 등 인권침해 여부를 조사해온 서울시 시민인권보호관은 지난 23일 이 같은 의혹이 사실로 확인됐다며 서울시장에게 박 대표를 징계하라고 권고했다.

이에 따라 서울시향 이사회는 오는 30일 박 대표의 해임 여부를 의제로 올려 논의할 예정이었다.  

박 대표는 서울시의 조사 결과에 대해 '사실과 다르다'고 거듭 반박했으나 당장 이사회가 하루 앞으로 다가오자 물러나기로 결심한 것으로 보인다.

박 대표가 사임 의사를 밝힘에 따라 30일 열리는 시향 이사회에서는 박 대표의 해임안 대신 사퇴를 수락할지를 논의할 것으로 예상된다.

시 관계자는 '이사회에서 계속 권고한 자진 사퇴를 박 대표가 수용한 만큼 내일 이사회에서는 그에 대해 논의할 것으로 보인다'고 말했다.

박 대표가 제기한 정명훈 예술감독의 개인 사정으로 인한 시향 공연 일정 변경 등에 대한 내용은 시 조사담당관에서 파악 중이며 아직 결과가 나오지 않았다.

정명훈 예술감독의 재계약 여부 역시 이사회 안건으로 상정돼 있다. (연합뉴스)
Emailjykwon@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter








 
 
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