University Professor’s Lawsuit Against Disciplinary Action Dismissed by Seoul Administrative Court
Seoul, South Korea – In a recent ruling by the 5th Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court, a private university professor’s lawsuit seeking the cancellation of a three-month suspension has been rejected, upholding the disciplinary action imposed on the professor.
The lawsuit was filed by Professor Lee, who had been suspended for verbally abusing both students and staff. The court deemed the disciplinary action appropriate, highlighting the severity of the professor’s misconduct.
The incident in question occurred in June 2021 when Professor Lee, irate about a campus job attachment, directed offensive remarks towards the staff of the Department of General Affairs. The professor’s derogatory comment towards the student council president a year prior was also scrutinized during the investigation.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the professor had repeatedly traveled abroad without notifying the school, resulting in a subsequent pay cut. Despite this, Professor Lee continued to defy regulations and embarked on another unauthorized trip overseas.
Consequently, the teacher disciplinary committee decided to terminate Professor Lee’s employment in February of the previous year. However, following an appeal, the teachers’ review committee reduced the punishment to a three-month suspension. Dissatisfied with this outcome, the professor resorted to legal action.
The presiding judge highlighted the gravity of Professor Lee’s actions, stating, “The derogatory comments made towards the Department of General Affairs staff caused significant emotional distress that far surpassed ordinary protest, while also subjecting students to humiliation through vulgar language.”
With the Seoul Administrative Court’s ruling, it is evident that the institution takes a firm stance against any form of verbal abuse or misconduct within its academic community. The decision serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a respectful and professional environment for both students and staff alike.
A university professor who was suspended for verbally abusing students and staff filed a lawsuit against the disciplinary action, but lost.
The 5th Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the disciplinary action was appropriate in a lawsuit filed by a private university professor against the Faculty Appeals Review Committee seeking the cancellation of a disciplinary penalty of three months’ suspension.
In June 2021, Professor Lee told the staff of the Department of General Affairs on the phone in relation to the job attachment on campus, “Who are you to see the teacher and tell him to come or go, I will give know what you did wrong”, and a year ago to the student council president “The student’s baby.”
In addition, it was investigated that the teacher travels abroad without reporting to the school, receives a pay cut, and then travels abroad without permission again.
The school’s teacher disciplinary committee decided to dismiss the teacher in February last year, and after that, the teachers’ appeal review committee reduced the disciplinary level to 3 months suspension, but Professor Lee did not accept that and filed a legal case.
The judge pointed out, “The comments towards the staff of the Department of General Affairs caused mental pain beyond the usual protest, and he put the students face to face and humiliated them with vulgar expressions.”
