[Opinion] Professors Seeking Profit

If one were to choose a group of people in the modern world similar to the Joseon Dynasty’s Seonbis (classic scholars), one might pick university professors. Professors themselves do not seem to dislike being associated with Seonbis, either. Although Joseon Seonbis are criticized for being politics and power oriented, this can also mean that they put public interests over private ones. This is the spirit of “public first, private last.” The increasing number of people who long for the old “Seonbi spirit” is a reaction to the current state of society, where everyone is breathlessly chasing their own share of the world.

A public hearing to discuss the special incorporation of national universities was to be held yesterday but was cancelled due to an unexpected incident. Right after the hearing began, NUPA, a group of professors of national universities, made a declaration opposing the hearing, and as soon as it began, 40 faculty members of national universities took over the platform. Some professors went up to the stand and explained their reasons for opposing the incorporation of universities. The Ministry of Education has stated that “only the universities who wish to do so will be incorporated, and the retirement age of professors and faculty will be guaranteed,” but some professors refused to listen. They even went so far as to physically stop a public hearing from being held.

The incorporation of national universities is an effort to give autonomy to “high expense, low efficiency” national universities for the purpose of enhancing competitiveness. There has been talk of incorporating national universities in Korea since 1995, but there has been little progress. Japan began considering this policy only after they heard the issue was surfacing in Korea, and completed the incorporation of 87 national universities in 2004. It was a big success. The University of Tokyo achieved the highest investment class of AAA. This is the same level as the worldwide blue chip company, Toyota. It is difficult to find serious thought about the means of surviving in the national universities of Korea. Perhaps this is because they believe that even if they do nothing, the taxes of the public will be available to them.

This is all the more reason that the fact that university professors opposed a public hearing is ridiculous. The Joseon Dynasty survived for 600 years due to the Seonbis putting their lives at stake to protect public opinion. Public opinion exists only when there is an open passage for speaking out. Lee Yul-gok said, “Empty words bring a nation to ruin.” Professors, who should be the first people in line fighting to keep the passages for public opinion open, are rejecting public opinion in order to pursue their immediate profits. What is this country coming to?

Hong Chan-sik, Editorial Writer, chansik@donga.com