Art school advised to protect students' right

A video clip made by the School of Performing Arts Seoul students that revealed school officials' illicit activities. / Capture from YouTube

By Bahk Eun-ji

The School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA) has been recommended to protect the rights of its students following recent incidents of malpractice by the school's former principal and officials.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said, Monday, it told the school recently to improve its facilities and protect students' rights to education and safety when they perform outside school premises.

The recommendation follows allegations that the former principal forced students to perform at private gatherings such as dinners and alumni events, at least 10 times over the last two years. He was also accused of paying his mobile phone bill from the school's budget and using vehicles owned by the school foundation for private purposes.

It was also alleged he and his wife took 100 million won ($83,820) from an afterschool programs subsidy and used it for private purposes over the past four years.

SMOE found in an inspection that computers and filmmaking equipment were too outdated and students often had to use their own money to use equipment at other facilities, although they were paying about triple the tuition of other high schools.

It said the school directors did not do enough to protect students' rights during extracurricular performances.

After the allegations emerged in January, SMOE demanded the school foundation dismiss the principle and discipline others involved. It also asked the police to investigate further.

In February, some of the school's students and graduates posted a video clip on YouTube. In the video, the students in their uniforms sing about their unfair situations they faced.

The video clip drew more than 4.8 million views and triggered a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website calling for punishment for the former principal. He was dismissed in April following a court ruling on a separate case.

SOPA has been attended by many K-pop stars and would-be stars, with alumni including Suzy, Hyeri from Girls' Day, Jungkook from BTS, Joy from Red Velvet and Kai from EXO.