SNU: 2 Professors Embezzled 408M Won

Seoul National University (SNU) suspended Lee Byeong-cheon and Kang Seong-geun, professors at the school’s college of veterinary medicine, for allegedly embezzling research expenses, on June 1, announced the school on Thursday.

An official at the school said, “We will receive reports from both professors next week and submit them to the disciplinary panel. They have both received heavy punishments of two and three months suspension from the office, so there are high possibilities of a heavier punishment this time.”

SNU president Chung Un-chan recently said, “Considering the high amount of the embezzlement and the weight of the issue, I will request heavy disciplinary actions to the panel.” SNU fired two professors from the college of technology last year for their embezzlement of research expenses.

Lee and Kang were found to have privately used 296 million and 112 million won respectively in research funds.

If Lee and Kang are to follow behind former professor Hwang Woo-suk, who was dismissed in March, and receive punishments heavier than a dismissal, the three main figures of Hwang’s research team will all be leaving the school.

SNU’s college of veterinary medicine has prepared for this disciplinary action and made a notification last month that it would be employing new professors.

wing@donga.com