Seoul Univ. Professors` "Relay Demonstration"

Seventeen Seoul National University professors, with each professor teamed up with one of their students, have been holding demonstrations for the reinstatement of former design professor Kim Min-soo, who was fired in 1998.

People Untied for the Reinstatement of Professor Kim (PURP) held an on-campus rally yesterday morning, demanding professor Kim`s immediate reinstatement. "We will continue our demonstration relay in which one professor and one student participate until the school administration takes meaningful steps toward Kim`s reinstatement," a representative from PURP said.

After the rally, PURP began their `2-men demonstration` in front of the university administration building for about an hour starting at noon.

The relay of demonstration will be carried out by seventeen professors including Lee Ae-joo, Kim She-gyun, Chang Kyung-sup and Joo Kyung-chul, and an equal number of student representatives, each bound to a partner.

Former professor Kim forfeited his tenure in 1998. The university says his lagging academic performance disqualified him for the job. "I got singled out for my criticism of the some old pro-Japanese professors," Kim said. He filed a lawsuit with the administrative court, but lost the trial and appeal. His case is currently pending with the South Korean Supreme Court.

In protest against the withdrawal of his tenure, he has been conducting non-credit classes at the university for the past five years.

Jin-Suk Huh jameshuh@donga.com