Korea University President
Lee Ki-su |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Korea University has been hit with renewed criticism after its latest claim of having helped propel figure skater Kim Yu-na to world championship glory.
Eyebrows were raised after Lee Ki-su, university president, said on Wednesday that the institution ``delivered" the 18-year-old, repeating a statement from late March that drew widespread criticism at the time.
Reacting, KU students and graduates spoke of their embarrassment at the latest claim.
Lee said that KU pumped the spirit of the school into Kim so that she could win the World Figure Skating Championship 2009.
``We can say KU delivered Kim,'' Lee told a forum at a meeting arranged by Kwanhun Club, a senior journalists' group in Seoul.
``You can tell Kim made totally different performances from the ones she performed during her high school era.
``It is a result of the injection of the KU spirit into her. I called and told her a leader in the 21st century should retain an ethnic, pioneering spirit and a conviction for victory."
KU admitted Kim last October after interviewing her over the Internet from Toronto. Since officially starting her course in April she has seldom attended class ― despite being registered as a student of the sports department.
As the fallout from the president's remarks continues, KU students have been posting critical comments on the school Web site.
``It was really absurd, even for me, one of KU's students. How more ridiculous are the president's comments to other people?'' said one who posted under the name ``tokyobay.''
``I think our school should be humble, and I am sorry for Yu-na.''
Another, using the ID ``2sh0313," said ``What's going on at our school. There are no good stories about our school nowadays.''
A KU graduate added, ``I was proud I am a KU graduate. However, I am very worried about our school nowadays.''
After Kim clinched the world title, the institution sponsored an advertisement in a Korean-language newspaper in March under the headline: ``Korea University delivered the world leader!''
KU students complained that the ad ruined rather than boosted the image of the school.
The university also faced criticism from outsiders. ``I think it is exaggerated. Kim didn't attend a KU class before the championship competition. The school is abusing her for the school's image,'' an office worker in Seoul said.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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