THE KUKMIN DAILY

On August 22, the Ministry of Education sent an official notification letter to Chongshin University (president: Kim Yeong-wu) canceling the approval of all 15 members of the school foundation board. The cancellation applied also to President Kim Yeong-wu, the former board chair, and to acting board chair Rev. An Myeong-hwan. The decision came five months after the Ministry began its fact-finding investigation on March 21. According to the Private School Act, article 54-3 (restrictions on appointment), one receiving such a judgment is ineligible for appointment as a board member or as president of the school for the next five years.

A source at the Private School Policy Department of the Education Ministry said in a telephone conversation with Kukmin Daily, “Based on our fact-finding investigation and hearing, we concluded that it would be hard to say the foundation board members have taken full responsibility to return the school to normal status… In addition, the board worsened the situation through such actions as the employment of a private security team to disperse students who were appealing for normalization of the school.”

The students, who have been calling for the resignation of President Kim and the board members since last January, welcomed the Ministry’s decision. The next step is the Ministry’s Private School Dispute Mediation Committee meeting, to be held on the 27th, when 15 candidates will be selected as temporary board members. They will replace those who have been dismissed, and the process will continue toward the final selection and appointment of new board members.

*Photo: The multi-use building at Chongshin University in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Banners demanding the resignation of President Kim Yeong-wu and the school foundation board members have been on display around the campus for the past eight months.

Article and photo by reporter Choi Ki-young (ky710@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)

Original Article in Korean:
교육부, 총신대 재단이사 15명 전원 임원 승인 취소: 교육부 “재단이사들 정상적인 학교 운영 어렵다” 사학분쟁조정위 27일 임시이사 후보 선정 논의

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