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| Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae makes statement at a meeting to restore trust in public education at the Government Complex in Sejong, Monday. Yonhap |
By Jung Hae-myoung
The Ministry of Education decided to cancel the college diplomas of seven K-pop stars after finding their school provided credits to them even though they did not attend enough classes to fulfill the requirements for graduation.
According to the ministry's inspection results, Monday, Dongshin University offered favors to the singers.
They are four members of the boy band Highlight, formerly known as Beast ― Lee Gi-kwang, Yong Jun-hyung, Yoon Doo-joon, and Jang Hyun-seung ― Seo Eun-kwang and Yook Sung-jae from boy group BTOB, and folk singer-song writer Chu Ga-yeol.
The celebrities entered the school's broadcasting and entertainment department, but rarely showed up at school due to their busy schedules.
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| Highlight's Lee Gi-kwang, left, and Yoon Doo-joon |
The university explained that according to its policy, broadcasting activities can be counted as attendance, but the rule was set up in 2015 and the singers enrolled at the school before that year.
Aside from attendance, the school gave scholarships worth 59.5 million won ($53,172) to some of them from 2010 to 2011 without due procedure.
Chu had also taught students there as a lecturer while enrolled as a student.
"The ministry will take stern action against corruption regarding college entrance and diplomas, as it gives huge social impact and shakes the foundation of whole educational institutions," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said.
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