'Entrance Exam Music Leak' Former Yonsei University Music Professor "Tried to Help Students"

A former Yonsei University music professor accused of conducting illegal lessons and leaking practical exam pieces for college entrance exams stated that he gave advice out of a desire to help the students.

On the 5th, during a trial presided over by Chief Judge Kang Seong-su of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Western District Court, former Yonsei University professor Mr. A said, “I also studied hard under my widowed mother,” and added, “The students did not apply to Yonsei University, and I gave advice because I wanted to help them somehow.”

Mr. A, also known as a famous pianist in Korea, is accused of illegally giving lessons to students he met through Professor B of Ulsan University, a Yonsei alumnus, ahead of the 2021 music college entrance exams, and leaking the practical exam pieces for Yonsei University’s music department entrance exam.

Mr. A stated, “Professor B asked if I could at least test students who wanted to attend other universities in Seoul, not Yonsei University, and I thought that would be acceptable, so I agreed,” and added, “After the test, seeing the students grateful for the advice, I thought listening to their performance and giving a few comments was not difficult and could be of some help.”

He continued, “For majors, this is not considered a lesson. A typical lesson involves having two pianos and stopping the student’s performance to provide instruction,” and added, “If giving advice after listening once and saying a few words is called a lesson, I have nothing to say, but I doubt that verbal advice alone is very helpful.”

The crime was uncovered when a student receiving lessons from Mr. A leaked the entrance exam pieces in a group chat of music college entrance exam candidates. Mr. A resigned from Yonsei University after the related allegations surfaced.

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