It has been reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has requested a pay reduction as a disciplinary action for Hyeon Joo-yeop, the head coach of the Whimoon High School basketball team, due to unauthorized absences from work.
On the 22nd, Kang Kyung-sook, a member of the National Assembly’s Education Committee from the Innovative Party, received information from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (hereinafter referred to as the education office) stating that the education office requested a pay reduction as a disciplinary action for Coach Hyeon, who allegedly left the workplace without permission 18 times. As Whimoon High is a private school, the education office cannot directly impose disciplinary action.
Earlier, a Whimoon High parent submitted a petition to the education office in March claiming that Coach Hyeon neglected his coaching duties in favor of broadcast activities such as “food shows.”
The education office investigated Whimoon High starting in April and revealed, “Coach Hyeon neglected the duties intrinsically tied to his role as a coach by leaving the workplace without prior permission 18 times for broadcast filming.”
Coach Hyeon appeared on a single program, ‘Saturday is for good food,’ for more than two days per week, a total of six times over six weeks. He also participated in broadcasts during the winter training period, the 61st Spring Invitational Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, and during a medical leave. It was also reported that he was absent when a student was injured during a practice game at Whimoon High School in February of last year.
However, regarding issues such as abuse during training, favoritism towards familiar players, discrimination, and verbal abuse, the education office stated it was “difficult to judge” and did not take special action. The office mentioned, “Some students and parents claimed to have directly witnessed or heard such behaviors, indicating that some of it may be true, but Coach Hyeon denies the accusations.”
Allegations that Coach Hyeon was hired as a coach after making payments were also excluded from the investigatory proceedings. The education office acknowledged that Coach Hyeon donated a total of 20 million won in two installments under a corporate name for which he was the representative, but it could not confirm a quid pro quo for his hiring as a coach.
Furthermore, allegations that Coach Hyeon exerted improper pressure on a coach to place his child in the Whimoon Middle School basketball team were excluded from the outset.
Based on the audit results, the education office also requested the foundation to impose serious disciplinary action, such as suspension for the principal, and demanded reprimands, with a warning issued to the vice-principal, as well as a warning for the vice-principal and administrative office manager.
However, the foundation, Whimoon Educational Foundation, did not comply with the disciplinary request from the education office and recently filed an administrative lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court requesting the cancellation of the audit results.