THE KUKMIN DAILY

On September 29, the proposal to approve acting president Prof. Kang Sung-young (53) of Hanshin University as president was not approved by the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea general assembly, held at La Vie d’Or in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do. Votes were cast on the third day of the assembly, and the result was 365 nays to 213 yeas.

Before the poll, Lee Geuk-rae, chair of the Hanshin School board of directors, apologized during the board’s report for the controversy over the selection of the president, and said in clarification, “The process of selection was done according to the procedure set in the related articles of regulation, and all matters were done correctly.” The delegates pointed to problems caused by the board during its confrontation with students, namely, its summoning of police forces to the meeting site and later suing the students.

Hanshin University has been in a situation of struggle since March 31, when the board selected as the next president the one who came in third out of the four candidates in an autonomous vote by the students and professors.

The delegates also passed a proposal urging voluntary resignation by the board members and auditors of the Hanshin School Board. In addition, it was decided to form a “Special Committee for Hanshin University Reform and Development.” This item will go into effect after a review by the legislation division and an appropriate process of article revision.

PROK Moderator Gwon O-ryun requested the board to once again recognize the weight of the issue and to carefully carry out the proper procedures.

On this day, the PROK general assembly also passed proposals to conduct gender equality education at all presbyteries and member churches, and to carry out education on the clergy tax, which will go into effect in 2018.

Article and photo by reporter Lee Saya (Isaiah@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)


Full Story in Korean:
기장, 한신대 총장 인준 부결… 내홍 새로운 국면: 주요 교단 총회 종합