Former Yonsei University Music Professor Given Suspended Sentence in 2nd Trial for Leaking Practical Exam Pieces to Students

"Temporary tutoring also counts as private lessons"

A former piano professor at Yonsei University’s College of Music, who was indicted for illegally tutoring and leaking practical exam pieces to a student, was sentenced to a suspended prison term again in the second trial.

The Criminal Appeals Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Im Min-seong) on the 11th sentenced Han Mo (67), who was indicted for violating the Academy Act and obstruction of business, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension, the same as in the first trial.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Mo, the entrance exam candidate who received the practical exam piece from Han, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension, and the music academy director Bae Mo and a private university professor Kim Mo, who arranged the tutoring, were each fined 5 million won.

The court stated, "There is no reason to overturn the first trial’s decision."

Regarding some defendants’ claims that temporary tutoring does not fall under private tutoring based on past Supreme Court rulings, the court explained, "That was an interpretation from a time when a complete ban on private tutoring was the principle," adding, "It is difficult to apply that directly to the current law. Temporary private tutoring should also be interpreted as included."

Han was indicted for illegally providing piano lessons to Kim at his home in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, around 2021, and for informing him in advance of one designated practical exam piece for the 2022 Yonsei University entrance preliminary exam.

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