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Dongguk University said Sunday it is suspending a controversial sociologist whose inflammatory pro-North Korean remarks have already brought down a prosecutor general. The university will temporarily suspend Prof. Kang Jeong-koo pending the outcome of a criminal investigation. The proposal was submitted by key figures in the university and will be put before university president Hong Ki-sam and the Ven. Hyun Hae for approval.
¡°The Private School Law and the rules of the university provide that the school can bar or revoke the professorship of an individual indicted for a criminal offense,¡± a university insider said. ¡°After looking into the case, experts and staff concluded that this case fell under the reach of the provision, and the decision was made to suspend Prof. Kang.¡±
With that, Kang will be prohibited from lecturing and denied access to research funds. If he is acquitted of the charges, his position will be restored. Kang was indicted without detention on Dec. 23 for violating the National Security Law in articles in which he notoriously called the Korean War ¡°North Korea¡¯s war of reunification,¡± which prosecutors say qualifies as North Korean propaganda under the decades-old act. Kang was also indicted for writing a message in the guest book at former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung¡¯s birthplace Mangyongdae in 2001 saying, ¡°Let¡¯s achieve unification by succeeding to the spirit of Mangyongdae." He is to be tried on both counts.
The alumni association of Dongguk University has been calling for the university to take disciplinary action, some alumni demanding Kang¡¯s dismissal, ever since his remarks provoked a scandal and subsequent row in the fall between the justice minister and prosecutors over how to handle the academic.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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