Renewal of contract with Maestro Chung postponed

By Kwon Ji-youn

Chung Myung-whun

The board of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) on Monday postponed making a final decision on whether to renew the contract of music director Chung Myung-whun.

The delay came a day after the police announced they were investigating allegations that his wife, surnamed Koo, led a smear campaign against former SPO CEO Park Hyun-jung.

Officials from Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) also said that the SPO board decided to postpone renewal of its contract with Chung, citing differences in opinions regarding the period of tenure in the contract.

SPO’s CEO Choe Heung-sik didn’t deny that the probe into Koo’s alleged involvement in Park’s removal from office had something to do with the delayed decision.

Public sentiment against Chung hardened Sunday after police said that they recently booked Koo without detention on charges that she allegedly instructed SPO employees to oust Park by smearing her reputation.

“Chung’s contract and Koo’s ongoing investigations are unrelated, but the two cannot be completely separate matters,” Choe told reporters after the meeting. “We have decided to consider modifications to the contract before re-entering negotiations with Chung, and it will be deliberated again before mid-January, when another board meeting will be convened.”

But Choe said that no directors at the board meeting were against renewing Chung’s contract.

“The SPO still hopes to continue working with Chung, and Chung, too, has revealed his intention to continue conducting for the SPO without pay,” Choe added.

This is in stark contrast to an interview Chung conducted in August, in which he expressed his intention to step down as music director when his contract expires on Dec. 31. Chung also said earlier this year that he will only renew his contract with the SMG if it promises to build a music hall for the SPO, as well as provide its wholehearted support. The Seoul City Council included construction costs for the hall in its budget for 2016, suggesting the SMG is willing to go out of its way to hold on to the maestro.

The ongoing investigation into suspicions that Chung embezzled more than 50 million won over the past decade is also said to have contributed to the decision for a delay. A petition filed by conservative activist groups in March also claimed that Chung had in 2009 arranged for members of his family to travel using airline tickets worth 13 million won, allocated for use by his manager.

A source familiar with the issue said on Sunday the contract had been tweaked to provide airfare unconditionally, but Choe explained: “Only when Chung enters Korea to perform with the SPO, or goes abroad on tour, will airline tickets be provided.”

Infighting has rocked the SPO ever since 17 employees issued a press release in December 2014, requesting that former CEO Park be removed by claiming she had verbally and sexually harassed them. Park has long claimed that Chung was behind their petition for her removal. Park stepped down later that month.

In August, police cleared her of all allegations and instead booked ten SPO employees on charges of having falsely accused her of abuse. Police suspect that Koo gave specific directions to Chung’s secretary, surnamed Baek, who carried them out with nine other SPO employees. Police said they have not yet questioned Koo because she has been residing abroad.