Seoul National University Improperly Hired 26 Professors

The Ministry of Education announced on September 14 the outcome of its inspection of the Seoul National University (SNU) in July.
According to its report, SNU improperly hired 26 professors, by employing applicants ranked 2nd to 8th in research records, instead of the applicants ranked first, from 1997 to 1998.
The university re-hired an assistant professor, who was dropped due to insufficient research records from medical school, by creating a new job at its medical research institute in 1997.
SNU hasn't given students from other universities the opportunities to take entrance exams at sophomore or junior level, while it accepted 207 of its own graduates from 1997 to 1999.
Improper payments of research funds were also pointed out by the ministry.
The ministry said that it had punished 32 persons with warnings or cautions, as well as demanding the return of 90 million won improper payments.
Kang Joo-an : jooan@joongang.co.kr