Sookmyung Univ. board dismisses school head

By Yun Suh-young

The board of Sookmyung Women’s University Foundation abruptly decided to dismiss the school’s president Han Young-sil, Thursday, exposing the deepening conflict over the misappropriation of school donations.

However, Han and her supporters threatened to take legal action to nullify what they call a legally-faulty decision.

At an emergency meeting convened at 7 a.m., the board approved Han’s dismissal which it said was effective immediately.

The school, however, said it could not accept an “unlawful” decision.

“According to the law on private schools, the board chairman must notify members a week in advance of the issues to be discussed. The board, however, was not told what the meeting held Thursday would be about. Therefore the decision is void,” it said in a statement.

“The school therefore calls for the president to continue to engage in the regular performance of her duties.”

The school board’s abrupt dismissal of the president comes amid ongoing dispute between the Sookmyung Foundation and the school headquarters.

Han had accused the foundation of exploiting school donations and lacking in transparency in its use of the money.

The school received outside donations worth about 70 billion won between 1995 and 2009 and the board had been in charge of financial management. However, the board transferred the donations to its account pretending that it was its own money.

Han and a group of professors last month called for the resignation of Lee Yong-tae, the head of the foundation’s board, and other members for unlawful practices.

Six board members including Lee were stripped of their board membership by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology last week. The board has been resentful toward Han and the ministry over the measures taken against it.