The Naju Citizens' Countermeasure Committee for the Normalization of Korea Energy Technology University (KENTECH), chaired by Oh Jong-sun, expressed strong regret over the KENTECH board of directors' decision to put forward a dismissal proposal against President Yoon Ui-jun as an agenda item on the 30th of last month, calling it "a decision below common sense that local residents cannot understand" and stating, "It is heartbreaking to wonder for whom this board of directors is serving."
Chairman Oh Jong-sun stated in a press release from the countermeasure committee on the 1st, "The Ministry of Industry audit pointed out issues that could occur at any institution due to the university's initially unstable system and insufficient institutional regulations," emphasizing this point.
The Citizens' Countermeasure Committee for the Normalization of Kentech held a rally on the 22nd of last month in front of the Korea Electric Power Corporation headquarters, urging the withdrawal of the recommendation to dismiss the president of Kentech and calling for normalization.
He continued, "Despite these being issues that can be sufficiently improved, demanding the dismissal of the university's inaugural president by covering up even the moral lapses of faculty and staff, and mobilizing the board to enforce the dismissal, is a deliberate political maneuver," strongly criticizing the board's decision.
Chairman Oh questioned, "I doubt whether KENTECH would have faced such harsh trials if it had been located in the Chungcheong or Yeongnam regions instead of the Honam region," and appealed, "Even though it has achieved successful results as a research-oriented university in its second year since establishment, the demand for the president's dismissal along with the failure to provide university subsidies on time, thereby endangering university operations, is an act of erasing the previous administration and a serious case of regional discrimination."
He added, "Despite the difficult financial conditions, Jeollanam-do and Naju City have been supporting KENTECH with 20 billion won annually to foster the energy new industry as a future industry and to revitalize the region with utmost dedication," and condemned the board's decision again, saying, "Nevertheless, causing irreparable damage to the university due to the controversy over the dismissal of the inaugural president is an outrageous act that ignores and tramples on the earnest wishes of the local residents."
Chairman Oh urged, "The government and the ruling party must immediately stop the self-destructive act of shaking the foundation of education, which is a hundred-year plan, and turning innocent students into targets of political strife," and called for "an immediate investigation into the conspirators who are trying to kill KENTECH, a model of regional balanced development and cooperative coexistence."
The Countermeasure Committee for the Normalization of KENTECH plans to gather the will of citizens from Gwangju and Jeonnam provinces and expatriates who wish for the normalization of the Energy University, deliver it to the government and ruling party, and also urge and propose a prompt response from the political circles.
Naju = Kim Yuk-bong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr
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