AKS Professors Demand Ouster of "Forces Supporting and Abetting Insurrection"
Key Position-Holding Professors Resign, Calling for Chairman and President to Step Down
AKS Excluded from Ministry of Education Work Report on the 13th
Professors at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) have called for the resignation of President Kim Nakyeon and Chairman Kim Joosung, demanding the protection of constitutional order and the guarantee of academic freedom.
According to the education sector on January 13, the AKS Professors’ Association issued a statement on January 9, declaring, "The chairman and president, who have undermined the independence of the institution and the constitutional order, must step down immediately."
The Professors’ Association pointed out, "Chairman Kim Joosung previously served as the 'political school principal' of Reebak School, which is suspected of manipulating public opinion and conducting far-right indoctrination education targeting minors." They further criticized, "In July 2024, when former President Lee Baeyong (then Chairperson of the National Education Commission) made a private visit, he provided a report on the institution’s status, thereby seriously violating the basic principles and procedures of public institution management."
Regarding President Kim Nakyeon, the association stated, "He was appointed president immediately after the meeting between Chairman Kim and Lee Baeyong," and added, "He repeatedly made inappropriate remarks as the president of AKS at official venues such as the National Assembly audit, thereby undermining the institution’s credibility."
In particular, the association criticized President Kim for attempting to appoint individuals associated with the Nakseongdae Institute of Economic Research as professors, stating, "This was a dangerous move that could undermine the academic direction and identity that AKS has pursued." The Nakseongdae Institute of Economic Research was jointly established in 1987 by Professor Ahn Byungjik of Seoul National University and Professor Lee Daekeun of Sungkyunkwan University, and is known for its New Right orientation, with members advocating the colonial modernization theory.
The Professors’ Association demanded: ▲ the immediate cessation of board and institutional practices that infringe upon academic and expressive freedom; ▲ clear explanations regarding allegations of unfair hiring attempts and intervention in research support evaluations; ▲ and the immediate resignation of the chairman and president who have undermined the independence of the institution and the constitutional order.
It is reported that professors who held key positions within the institute have all expressed their intention to resign, demanding the resignation of the chairman and president.
As a result, AKS was excluded from the scheduled Ministry of Education public and affiliated institution work report on this day.
During a briefing on the results of the work report held in the afternoon, a Ministry of Education official stated, "Since all key position holders at the Academy of Korean Studies are resigning, it was determined that a normal work report would not be possible, so AKS was excluded from this report. Once the institution returns to normal operations, the schedule will be rearranged."
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