Controversy Intensifies Over Graduate Student Death Due to Verbal Abuse... Soongsil University to Announce Investigation Results Soon

Controversy Over Graduate Student Death in January Last Year
Reinvestigation Amid Dispute Over Advisor's Disciplinary Measures

Soonchunhyang University is expected to release the results of the fact-finding investigation into the disciplinary case of the advisor professor, who faced responsibility controversies related to the graduate student's death incident that was a major concern on campus last year, as early as this week.

Scenic view of Soongsil University.
Photo by Asia Economy DB

A Soonchunhyang University official said in a phone call with Asia Economy on the 6th, "We are organizing the results of the fact-finding investigation and special audit, and will soon announce our position."

Previously, Professor A attended the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, 'CES 2023,' with graduate students in January last year. Graduate student B, who accompanied the event, passed away three days after returning to Korea in January last year. Soonchunhyang University's Human Rights Committee announced the investigation results stating that during CES, Professor A overloaded the deceased with work and verbally abused them in front of other students, and decided on a severe disciplinary action.

Professor A explained the situation in the United States through a statement issued by their legal representative, saying, "I did not acknowledge the expression of verbal abuse, but I recognize that my expression was clumsy." However, Professor A denied the allegations surrounding them, stating, "The false accusation that I am directly responsible for my student's death was an unbearable pain."

Professor A filed a complaint against counseling and human rights center staff for obstruction of business, claiming that the Soonchunhyang University Human Rights Committee's investigation was unfair. Professor A sent a statement from their legal representative to campus members mentioning B's medical history. Subsequently, Soonchunhyang University's disciplinary committee issued a mild disciplinary action of reprimand to Professor A, not recognizing Professor A's direct responsibility for B's death.

The change in the disciplinary level was a matter of campus interest. In response to the controversy, Soonchunhyang University had all members of the disciplinary committee resign and formed a special countermeasure committee composed of senior university officials. They also conducted a special audit and formed a fact-finding investigation committee, pledging to thoroughly investigate the truth.

The Soonchunhyang University special countermeasure committee also responded to Professor A's statement, saying, "It contains secondary victimization content. We strongly regret the sending of threatening emails," and added, "The deceased was an excellent student who properly wrote and submitted their master's thesis." They also stated, "We will protect faculty and staff from any additional harm during the course of official duties."

Meanwhile, Professor A told Asia Economy that although the school claims B's death was due to verbal abuse, this is not true.