The national university Jeonbuk National University showed that it applied sexual harassment charges to a faculty member who should have been dismissed or fired for committing sexual assault, only issuing a three-month suspension.
The Ministry of Education revealed on the 4th that it had uncovered a total of 26 cases of unfair conduct during a comprehensive audit of Jeonbuk National University, including this matter.
As a result of this comprehensive audit, Jeonbuk National University was found to have arbitrarily reduced the disciplinary action against the faculty member. According to the Ministry of Education, faculty member A committed sexual assault, but was charged with sexual harassment in the internal discipline. Under the regulations regarding the disciplinary standards for educational officials, sexual violence, including sexual assault, is punishable by dismissal or termination, while sexual harassment can result in a three-month suspension.
Jeonbuk National University also reportedly could have requested a review from the Ministry of Education if the decision of the disciplinary committee did not meet the standards, but did not do so.
Additionally, Professor B from Jeonbuk National University was found to have not paid 300 million won in indirect expenses while conducting research projects. Indirect expenses are costs commonly incurred when carrying out research projects, such as administrative personnel. Jeonbuk National University must pay part of the research funds as indirect costs to the university's Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. However, Professor B shifted research that should have been done by himself to commissioned research to reduce these costs. This was taking advantage of the fact that commissioned research and development costs do not require indirect expenses to be paid.
The Ministry of Education has already requested light disciplinary actions against both retired A and B. It also demanded the recovery of the approximately 300 million won that B underpaid.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education demanded that Jeonbuk National University issue warnings to 10 staff members and cautionary measures to 11 others.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education conducted comprehensive audits of Jeonbuk National University, the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Agency, the Teachers' Appeals Review Committee, and Seoul Agricultural School. The Korea Educational Facilities Safety Agency was found to have uncovered a total of 9 irregularities, including staff using institutional vehicles for private purposes. The Teachers' Appeals Review Committee was criticized for extending decisions on appeals without specific reasons on 4 occasions, while Seoul Agricultural School was noted for failing to comply with dual job approval and external lecture reporting regulations on 2 occasions.