"Yeongnam University Attempts to Cover Up Rape" Female Professor's Victimization Exposed in Cheong Petition

"Yeungnam University, Stop Trying to Cover Up Rape"... Over 160,000 Agree to Cheong Petition

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A female professor affiliated with Yeungnam University is causing a stir by claiming that she was raped by a fellow professor, but the university is only trying to cover it up. The professor reportedly informed another professor, who was the vice president of Yeungnam University, about the incident, but that professor also ignored her and said things like "If you want to make noise, leave."

On the Blue House's national petition board, a petition titled "Yeungnam University is trying to cover up a rape" was posted on the 11th. As of 7:30 a.m. on the 13th, the petition had received over 165,000 signatures.

Professor A, who identified herself as currently working at Yeungnam University, said, "I was raped by Professor B, a fellow professor at Yeungnam University who worked in the same center," and opened up by saying, "As a woman, telling the world that I was raped is more shameful than death, but I am courageously revealing my real name and making it public."

She said, "Even though I was raped by a fellow professor as a female professor, Yeungnam University was only eager to cover it up," and added, "Since Professor C, who was the vice president of Yeungnam University until recently, was supervising the same center, I pleaded for separation measures from Professor B who raped me, but the response I received was 'If you want to make noise, leave.'"

She continued, "After that, (Professor C) tried to expel me by removing my position and excluding me from meetings, effectively sidelining me from work," and emphasized, "After enduring this, I filed a rape charge against Professor B, who raped a fellow professor, and also sued Professor C, who was the vice president of Yeungnam University."

Professor A said, "Thinking 'If a professor who even raped a female colleague is around, how dangerous would it be for students?' I reported it to Yeungnam University's Gender Equality Center and requested separation measures from students," but added, "However, Yeungnam University only held a grand Sexual Violence Countermeasures Committee to pretend to take action, and said that separation measures from students were not necessary for the male professor who raped a female colleague."

She also said, "If you think I have spread false information, sue me," and appealed on behalf of many women who silently cry behind the scenes, saying, "Yeungnam University, please stop trying to cover up rape like this."

However, the university name and real names disclosed by Professor A have currently been anonymized by the administrator. The Blue House national petition board hides certain content if it includes personal information or defamation of others.

Yeungnam University campus. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Professor A filed police complaints in February against Professor B for rape and Professor C for coercion. According to the police, Professor A claims that in June 2019, Professor B, who worked in the same center, followed her home under the pretext of escorting her after a company dinner and raped her.

Professor A also claimed that Professor B sexually harassed her by repeatedly calling her until she answered when he drank alcohol, asking questions like "Are you wearing black underwear?" However, Professor B admitted to going to Professor A's house but denied the rape allegations.

In this regard, Professor A informed the university vice president, Professor C, about the incident and asked for help. However, Professor C reportedly ignored it and instead gave disadvantages such as excluding Professor B from work. Professor C resigned from his position on the 21st of last month.

Meanwhile, Yeungnam University is reportedly planning to verify the facts of Professor A's claims through the on-campus Gender Equality Center and take measures separately from the police investigation.