It has since been suspended.
Koreaboo
The story of a South Korean university professor accused of sexually harassing a student has sparked public attention and outrage. Geun Hyung ParkWell-known theater director and faculty member at the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts) has been suspended for three months following allegations of misconduct involving a student.
The incident occurred in April, when Park was reportedly having dinner and drinks with students. During the meeting, he allegedly kissed one of his students on the cheek and made inappropriate comments, including calling her affectionate names and stating his affection for her. These actions led to an investigation by K-Arts’ disciplinary committee, which concluded in August that the allegations were credible. Based on the findings, Park was suspended for three months, citing violations of ethical guidelines and national civil servant laws.
Despite his suspension from August 21 to November 20, Park was found to have held performances at various venues, including theaters in Gwangju and Miryang, without obtaining the necessary permissions from the university.
The scandal also affected future projects. The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture announced the cancellation of two plays directed by Park, “Winter is Cold and Spring is Far Away” and “Summer is Hot and Winter is Long,” which were supposed to be staged in December and January. In particular, “Summer is Hot, and Winter is Long” explores the destruction of a family torn apart by a sexual harassment scandal, an ironic reflection given the circumstances.
A representative for the foundation said the decision to cancel was made after reviewing the disciplinary action. Refunds for tickets already purchased were promised.
Congressman Park Jung Ha expressed concern, noting that although the #MeToo movement made waves in the theater world six years ago, significant changes have been slow. He called for stricter measures to prevent public funds from supporting projects involving individuals accused of misconduct.
Meanwhile, this story has gone viral among Korean netizens, becoming a hot topic in forums like TheQoo where it has collected over 64,000 views and hundreds of comments condemning the professor’s behavior.
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