Denial of 'Power Abuse' Allegations at Shinhan University Faculty
Agency: "Reflecting on Lack of Communication with Students"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] Actor Lee Beom-soo (53) denied allegations of abusing his power over the students he teaches, calling them "groundless."
On the 7th, Lee Beom-soo's agency, Big Punch Entertainment, issued an official statement saying, "We apologize for causing discomfort due to an unexpected controversy related to his teaching activities. We would like to clarify the facts to correct misunderstandings."
The agency stated, "Lee Beom-soo has been teaching since 2014 and has taught students for over eight years. Regarding the class schedule, after discussions with the school, we received a response from the school that it was possible to hold classes on weekends rather than weekdays."
They continued, "This year, due to the filming schedules of one drama and one movie, there were times when classes could not be held on weekdays, and there were cases where sudden changes in filming schedules prevented prior notification to the academic affairs office. We sought sufficient understanding from the students regarding this. Since then, he has been conducting make-up classes and teaching diligently," they emphasized.
The agency apologized, saying, "We apologize for not being able to accommodate the individual study schedules of the students," and promised, "If communication with the students was insufficient, we will reflect on that and work to improve."
Furthermore, they refuted, "There was no discrimination against students or verbal abuse. Other allegations are also groundless." They added, "Lee Beom-soo is cooperating sincerely with the school's investigation to ascertain the truth. He has already clarified any inaccuracies through the investigation and will continue to cooperate faithfully."
The agency also added, "We plan to take strong legal action against the spread and dissemination of false information about Lee Beom-soo."
Previously, a post was uploaded on an online community by a person identifying themselves as A, a student in the Department of Performing Arts at Shinhan University, claiming to have been abused by the department head, Lee Beom-soo.
A claimed that Lee Beom-soo discriminated by dividing students into Class A for wealthy and favored students and Class B for poor and disliked students. Students reportedly became slaves to gain favor with the professor and even spied on each other. It was also alleged that Lee Beom-soo committed personal insults and gaslighting, causing half of the first-year students to take leaves of absence or drop out, sparking controversy.
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