Is the wife of the head of KAIST a Sookmyung Girls' High School alumna? "I will not answer"

[2020 National Audit] Rep. Park Dae-chul "Director's Wife Graduated from Same High School as First Lady"
Director of KAIST Initially Said "Don't Know," Later "Will Not Respond"

The test launch vehicle of the Korean-type launch vehicle 'Nuriho' is being transported to the launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do on the 27th. The test launch vehicle is scheduled to be launched in the afternoon of the 28th. (Provided by Korea Aerospace Research Institute)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] At the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee’s audit of government-funded research institutes (hereinafter referred to as research institutes) held on the 20th, lawmakers sharply criticized Lim Cheol-ho, President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, over an employee assault incident.

Park Dae-chul, a member of the People Power Party, questioned not only in the morning session but also in the afternoon about the assault incident involving President Lim and the relationship between President Lim’s wife and the First Lady.

Park asked Jeong Byeong-seon, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, “The President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute was involved in an assault incident and it was reported through the National Petition System, but the Ministry’s responsible office dismissed it saying ‘there are differing opinions.’ After checking the content of the victim’s phone call with the officer in charge, they said, ‘A light tap or throwing something is just a joke; the basics are a fist or a slap.’ Is this the level of awareness at the Ministry of Science and ICT?” He added, “A special audit is necessary for this case. Please submit a basic plan for this before the end of the general audit.” Vice Minister Jeong responded, “An institutional audit of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute is scheduled.”

In the morning session, Park stated, “Last May, President Lim verbally abused researchers while drinking at a bar in Daejeon, threw side dishes, and hit a researcher’s chest. Later at a year-end drinking party, he fought with a researcher and bit his arm, repeatedly committing acts of violence.” He also asked, “I understand his wife graduated from Sookmyung Girls’ High School and is close to the First Lady, and it is said that before he became president, it was said there was no problem with his appointment because of this relationship. Is this true?” President Lim apologized, saying, “I cannot deny my shortcomings,” but explained, “I never said I was close to the First Lady. Conservative friends maliciously spread such rumors.”

However, at the start of this line of questioning, Park asked, “Is your wife a graduate of Sookmyung Girls’ High School?” to which President Lim replied, “I don’t know,” and then added, “This question is unrelated to the duties of the President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.”

Park continued his questioning in the afternoon regarding President Lim’s wife, criticizing his “I don’t know” response. After Park’s questioning, Lee Won-wook, Chair of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, said, “I briefly left the audit room but heard President Lim answer ‘I don’t know.’ It is unreasonable for a spouse’s high school alma mater to be unknown in social norms. As a witness from the audited institution, he must answer lawmakers’ questions sincerely.”

In response, President Lim said, “I am almost 70 years old, and I thought it was unnecessary to summon my fragile and ill wife to the audit session, so I did not speak about it.” He added, “I do know about matters related to my wife, but since it is unrelated to this issue, I will not discuss it.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.