Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) President Lim Ki-chul has been referred to the prosecution on charges of defaming a whistleblower who reported hiring irregularities within the university during a public event.
On July 21, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency announced that President Lim, who had been booked without detention on charges including defamation, has been sent to the prosecution.
President Lim is accused of disparaging Professor A during a workshop held in June of last year, attended by over 100 GIST faculty and staff members, by referring to Professor A as "gyokkuraeji" (a portmanteau of "professor" and "mudfish"), saying that "one gyokkuraeji muddies the water of the school."
Professor A was the whistleblower who reported the GIST hiring irregularities that were uncovered in an audit by the Ministry of Science and ICT in the same month. The ministry's audit at the time found that GIST had failed to follow proper procedures while hiring two individuals for the positions of Academy Director and Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Next Generation Energy Research Institute, with indications that the process was tailored for specific candidates.
After Professor A filed a complaint, the police launched an investigation and referred only the defamation charge against President Lim to the prosecution. The police also stated that if further evidence emerges proving that President Lim and other faculty members with administrative roles were involved in obstruction of business, breach of duty, or other hiring irregularities, they will refer those additional charges to the prosecution as well.
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