Cho Kuk Receives 56 Million KRW Salary After 'Suspension' at Seoul National University... "It's Hypocrisy"

Payment Based on Seoul National University Internal Regulations

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. /Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] It has been revealed that former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk has received approximately 56 million KRW in pre-tax salary since being suspended from his position at Seoul National University in January last year.

According to the 'Salary and Allowance Payment Status During Suspension Period Over the Past 5 Years' received by Kim Byung-wook, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the People Power Party, from Seoul National University, former Minister Cho received tens of millions of KRW in monthly salary without teaching for 20 months.

Previously, former Minister Cho took a leave of absence from Seoul National University upon his official appointment as Minister of Justice on September 9, 2019. However, he resigned from the ministerial post just 35 days later on October 14 and returned to Seoul National University the very next day, October 15. Subsequently, on January 29 last year, he was indicted on charges including bribery and abuse of power, leading to his suspension from Seoul National University.

It is known that Cho's salary was paid according to Seoul National University's regulations. The university pays 50% of the monthly salary for the first three months to suspended faculty members, and 30% thereafter.

However, there is no regulation to reclaim the salary paid during the suspension period even if the faculty member fails to fulfill teaching hours. Seoul National University has reportedly not yet discussed whether to reclaim the salary already received if a guilty verdict is confirmed by the Supreme Court regarding Cho.

Assemblyman Kim stated, "It is hypocritical that suspended individuals like Professor Cho receive tens of millions of KRW in salary without any normal activities such as teaching or research," and added, "The unreasonable salary structure where students' tuition fees flow to those who do nothing must be eliminated."

He continued, "Former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Sang-jo, who was dismissed amid the 'jeonse price increase' controversy and reinstated as a professor at Hansung University last April, had part of his salary reclaimed according to internal regulations," and "Kim also decided to donate the entire remaining salary after the reclaim to Hansung University student scholarships."

Hansung University stipulates in Article 6 of the 'Enforcement Rules on Faculty and Teaching Hours' that if a faculty member fails to fulfill the responsible teaching hours, the salary corresponding to those hours must be reclaimed.

Meanwhile, the total salary paid to 18 suspended faculty members at Seoul National University from 2016 to September of this year amounts to 1,083,648,000 KRW.

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