By Jung Min-ho
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is facing mounting criticism over its decision to keep Chung Myung-whun as music director at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), after an audit found him responsible for a wide range of irregularities that a lawyer argued could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
"If someone files a complaint against him with the police, he could be prosecuted," lawyer Kim Kwang-sam told The Korea Times.
Kim said that Chung could face up to 10 years in prison or 30 million won ($28,000) in fines if found guilty.
During his 10-year stint with the SPO, Chung was found to have arranged for his family members to use airplane tickets, which were supposed to be for his manager, from 2006 to 2011.
The SMG asked him to return 13 million won ($12,000) to the SPO to cover the cost.
This is apparently against Mayor Park Won-soon's pledge to apply the utmost ethical standards and not to tolerate any corrupt civil servants. Chung is on the city's payroll, thereby making him a city employee.
A Seoul Metropolitan councilor is not satisfied with the city's handling of the case, saying, "It appears that the SMG is working hard just to renew his contract."
Another member, Lee Hye-kyung, said that Chung has received 14.1 billion won over the past decade, although he only stayed for three to four months annually on average.
Chung also violated SPO regulations by repeatedly holding personal piano recitals against the directive of its head.
His son's piano teacher landed a job at the SPO in December 2005 through Chung, and worked there until 2012.
A former employee at the company of Chung's elder brother also received special treatment in getting a job at the SPO.
Observers say the whole point of the investigation was to clear the air on issues, brought up by former SPO President and CEO Park Hyun-jung.
In a recent gathering with reporters, Mayor Park said there was no one who could replace him.
Chung has made great contributions in morphing the SPO into a reputable orchestra as its director over the past 10 years.
According to the orchestra, its number of concerts has more than doubled and attendance has increased more than five-fold since its inauguration.
The former SPO CEO accused Chung of "privatizing" the orchestra by abusing his power, claiming he led a smear campaign against her.
In a recent press conference, Chung didn't reveal any intention to quit, rather he demanded that the city build a concert hall for the orchestra.
He could not be reached for comment.
Last year alone, about 11 billion won of taxpayers' money was poured into the SPO to keep it afloat.
When Park took the helm at the orchestra in 2013, she tried to restructure the organization and to change its "inefficient" business culture.
But her aggressive leadership style eventually led her to resign, Dec. 29.
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| Chung Myung-whun |
"If someone files a complaint against him with the police, he could be prosecuted," lawyer Kim Kwang-sam told The Korea Times.
Kim said that Chung could face up to 10 years in prison or 30 million won ($28,000) in fines if found guilty.
During his 10-year stint with the SPO, Chung was found to have arranged for his family members to use airplane tickets, which were supposed to be for his manager, from 2006 to 2011.
The SMG asked him to return 13 million won ($12,000) to the SPO to cover the cost.
This is apparently against Mayor Park Won-soon's pledge to apply the utmost ethical standards and not to tolerate any corrupt civil servants. Chung is on the city's payroll, thereby making him a city employee.
A Seoul Metropolitan councilor is not satisfied with the city's handling of the case, saying, "It appears that the SMG is working hard just to renew his contract."
Another member, Lee Hye-kyung, said that Chung has received 14.1 billion won over the past decade, although he only stayed for three to four months annually on average.
Chung also violated SPO regulations by repeatedly holding personal piano recitals against the directive of its head.
His son's piano teacher landed a job at the SPO in December 2005 through Chung, and worked there until 2012.
A former employee at the company of Chung's elder brother also received special treatment in getting a job at the SPO.
Observers say the whole point of the investigation was to clear the air on issues, brought up by former SPO President and CEO Park Hyun-jung.
In a recent gathering with reporters, Mayor Park said there was no one who could replace him.
Chung has made great contributions in morphing the SPO into a reputable orchestra as its director over the past 10 years.
According to the orchestra, its number of concerts has more than doubled and attendance has increased more than five-fold since its inauguration.
The former SPO CEO accused Chung of "privatizing" the orchestra by abusing his power, claiming he led a smear campaign against her.
In a recent press conference, Chung didn't reveal any intention to quit, rather he demanded that the city build a concert hall for the orchestra.
He could not be reached for comment.
Last year alone, about 11 billion won of taxpayers' money was poured into the SPO to keep it afloat.
When Park took the helm at the orchestra in 2013, she tried to restructure the organization and to change its "inefficient" business culture.
But her aggressive leadership style eventually led her to resign, Dec. 29.
