Former Sangji University President Kim Mungi Wins Final Victory in Dismissal Nullification Lawsuit

Supreme Court, Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Honam Moon munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Sangji University President Kim Moon-gi has won the final verdict in a lawsuit against the school foundation challenging his dismissal.

On the 14th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Ahn Cheolsang) announced that it upheld the lower court's ruling in favor of Kim, confirming the invalidation of disciplinary action filed against Sangji Academy by former President Kim.

Previously, in March 2015, the Ministry of Education determined through a comprehensive audit of Sangji University that there were grounds for disciplinary action against former President Kim. Sangji Academy held a disciplinary committee meeting and imposed a one-month suspension on Kim, but the Ministry of Education requested a reconsideration. Subsequently, the Ministry ordered correction again after the disciplinary committee imposed a two-month suspension.

Eventually, Sangji Academy dismissed former President Kim without a disciplinary committee resolution. However, Kim contested the dismissal and filed a lawsuit against Sangji Academy.

The first and second trials ruled in favor of the plaintiff. The second trial court stated, "The head of a private school cannot be dismissed solely by a board resolution," and "This dismissal lacked procedural validity as it did not go through a disciplinary committee resolution."

The Supreme Court agreed with this judgment. The court stated, "The lower court did not err in its understanding of the legal procedures for dismissing the head of a university educational institution under the Private School Act, and this did not affect the ruling," dismissing the appeal.

Meanwhile, Sangji University stated, "Former President Kim's term was from August 14, 2014, to August 13, 2018, lasting four years," and "There will be no return of Kim as president."

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