More Than 90% of Jeonju University Professors Vote No Confidence in Board Chairman and President

Jeonju University professors delivered an overwhelming vote against extending board chairman Cha Jong-soon’s term and against President Ryu Doo-hyun, deepening a long-running dispute on campus.

The Emergency Committee for the Normalization of Jeonju University held a rally outside the president’s office on Sept. 3 and demanded that both men leave their positions. It delivered a no-confidence motion approved at an emergency general meeting and read a statement calling for their resignations. Ryu was away, so his chief secretary received the motion.

The committee conducted the vote over three days beginning Aug. 31. Participation reached 83.3% of all professors. Among those voting, 97.7% opposed renewing Cha’s term and 94.3% expressed no confidence in Ryu.

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The figures of 97.7% and 94.3% are not merely numbers.

The committee said the figures were “a fiery warning and final verdict” from the entire faculty. It argued that most university members had made clear that the institution’s crisis could not be overcome under what it called corrupt and incompetent leadership.

The vote followed months of conflict after the emergency committee was formed in September last year. The committee has accused Cha of abusing his authority and alleged that associates were attempting to privatize the university. It has also raised allegations involving golf hospitality, receiving money and interference in personnel decisions, and urged police to investigate quickly.

The committee filed a complaint over the allegations with police in February and says the investigation has made little progress. Since Aug. 31, committee chairman Lee Ho-joon has been on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding that Cha not serve another term and that the president and the chairman’s close associates leave.

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They are a fiery warning and final verdict from all professors directed at the board chairman and the president.