By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-soo
Thirty-five professors at state universities were disciplined in the past three years over sexual crimes. Thirty-one percent were dismissed, according to education ministry data released Wednesday.
There were five cases in 2014, 11 in 2015, 11 in 2016 and eight by August.
Seoul National University, the nation’s top school, had the biggest portion with five professors disciplined. Chonbuk National University and Kyeongsang National University shared second with three cases each. Among the disciplined professors were five who taught student teachers.
Eighty-four professors were disciplined for drunk driving during the period. There were no dismissals and only two were severely disciplined.
“There has to be a stricter punishment because there is a high possibility of recidivism in the case of driving under the influence and sexual assault,” said Rep. Kim Byung-wook, of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who disclosed the data.