High Court Upholds Sentence Against Seoul’s Top Educator
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
A high court in Seoul upheld a lower court's ruling that fined Seoul's top educator 1.5 million won ($1,100) for failing to report a borrowed-name account in declaring his assets before the election campaign last June.
The Seoul Central District Court delivered the initial ruling that could deprive Kong Jeong-taek, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, of his post.
After the high court ruling, Kong said he will lodge an appeal.
Kong was charged with underreporting his wealth by 400 million won and receiving 190 million won in illegal campaign funds from private cram school operators.
Under the current law, superintendents who are fined more than 1 million won should resign. His term expires in June 2010.
Kong has pushed for autonomy and stronger competition at schools in line with the Lee Myung-bak government's policies. He was reelected to a third-term in the last election, defeating progressive Jou Kyong-bok, who campaigned on a platform of egalitarianism.