Although Jung resigned over his wife's involvement in a cash-for-admissions scandal, he and his family still live in an official residence thanks to the university's kindness. Jung has nowhere else to go. The ex-president sold his house in 2004 to help bail his oldest son out of debt.

Jung's son left a research institute run by a large enterprise in 2001 and started his own bio-technology company. His company failed in 2003 and he ended up with W5 billion in debt. To help his son, Jung sold some of his real estate including an apartment where he lived.

"The former president has been so distressed over money that he started smoking again after quitting 20 years ago," a Yonsei professor said.

The leadership of the Yonsei University Alumni Association agreed to raise a fund and buy a house for the former president last Friday. Although many alumni were disappointed by the scandal, they felt they could not turn a blind eye to the ex-president's unfortunate situation.

"The alumni association thought we should help the former president who devoted himself to research and the administration of the university," said Lee Bum-kwan, vice chairman of the alumni association.

(englishnews@chosun.com )