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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 |
Foul-mouthed Seoul Philharmonic CEO resigns
By Kwon Ji-youn
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| Chung Myung-whun |
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
