Seohyeongwon, President of Cheongam College, Wins Main Lawsuit Declaring Dismissal from Office Invalid

Cheongam Academy, President Seo Suspended on 17th Ahead of Court Ruling
President Seo Announces Legal Action Against Suspension... Court Decision Needed Promptly

Exterior view of Cheongam Hall, the headquarters of Cheongam College

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The controversy that arose when Cheongam Academy dismissed President Seo Hyung-won of Cheongam College last March, citing his resignation letter, has been temporarily resolved after about 18 months with a court ruling.

The 2nd Civil Division of the Suncheon Branch of Gwangju District Court (Judge Lee Jung-yeop) ruled on the 24th that “the dismissal of President Seo Hyung-won is invalid.”

When Cheongam Academy, the school corporation, dismissed President Seo Hyung-won on May 27 last year and elected Vice President Lee Kang-du as acting president, Seo took legal action, calling it an unreasonable personnel decision.

Although the court belatedly sided with President Seo Hyung-won, he is still facing difficulties due to the ‘lack of communication’ from the Cheongam Academy board of directors.

Regarding President Seo’s dismissal, the Cheongam College Faculty Council issued a statement saying, “The university is once again on the brink of collapse,” and demanded that “the board of directors immediately cancel the dismissal order of President Seo,” but Cheongam Academy did not accept this.

President Seo filed a petition with the Ministry of Education’s Teacher Appeal Committee and applied for a provisional injunction to preserve his status at the Suncheon Branch of Gwangju District Court.

The Ministry of Education rejected the dismissal report of President Seo Hyung-won submitted by Cheongam Academy twice.

In January, the Gwangju High Court ruled that “Cheongam Academy’s dismissal of President Seo is invalid” and ordered the school corporation not to interfere with his duties as president.

In the provisional injunction lawsuit filed by President Seo, the court recognized “the school corporation’s unfair dismissal” and decided that “the president’s status should be maintained until the final ruling on the main case.”

Cheongam Academy appealed against this injunction, but it was dismissed.

The court also ordered Cheongam Academy to bear the litigation costs.

Jung Yong-tae, head of the Cheongam College Professors’ Union, said, “The school corporation is only wasting huge legal fees trying to unfairly oust the capable President Seo,” and demanded “an immediate transparent and fair audit by the Ministry of Education.”

Cheongam Academy’s attempt to remove President Seo Hyung-won has reached a new turning point.

On the 17th, when the court ruling was expected, Cheongam Academy (Chairman Kim Do-young) forcibly suspended President Seo Hyung-won and appointed Professor Kim Han-seok of the Beauty and Cosmetology Department as acting president, once again causing turmoil at Cheongam College.

President Seo’s side stated, “The reason for the suspension is unclear, and the suspension notice only cited poor work attitude as the basis.”

President Seo said, “The reasons for the suspension and the procedures leading to the decision are extremely unfair and illegal,” and added that he “will file a provisional injunction to suspend the effect,” indicating a legal dispute is expected.

Some are raising issues about the status of Professor Kim Han-seok, who was appointed acting president, and procedural flaws.

Meanwhile, there are claims that, contrary to the intentions of former President Kang, the actual management principal of Cheongam Academy, the acting president was appointed without his consent.

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