Ex-Yonsei Presidents Return Draws Criticism
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Yonsei University said its former president Jung Chang-young will teach again at the school from March, just five months after he quit, taking responsibility over an admission corruption scandal involving his wife. Students are protesting the school's decision.
According to the school Friday, former president Jung Chang-young will teach two microeconomics courses in the upcoming semester.
``After resigning from the presidential position, Jung told the school that he wanted to teach students. We decided to accept it,'' a school official said.
The scandal emerged last October when Jung's wife received 200 million won from a parent in return for helping her daughter get admitted into the university's dental school.
Jung stepped down mid-term to take responsibility for the scandal.
``Concluding the probe soon, the prosecution is likely to clear Jung of the allegation. He only resigned from the presidential post and maintains the position as professor, so there is no problem with him giving lectures,'' the official said.
But students are critical of the former president being allowed to lecture so soon.
In comparison, former Korea University President Lee Pil-sang, who resigned two months after his inauguration over alleged plagiarism in February last year, did not lecture for a semester after the scandal, taking moral responsibility.
``I was surprised at the news. He caused serious damage to our school's image. It's nonsense that he is returning to lectures in just a few months,'' a senior at the university said on condition of anonymity.
A Yonsei student named Kim Su-min said on the school's Web site, ``It's not fair that Jung returns so soon while other professors are not given their jobs back after wrongdoing.''
But another student named Kim Deok-gyu said, ``Jung is supposed to retire in a year or so. Still, he is trying to give lectures just because he wants to teach. What's wrong with that?''