▲ Park Ji-hyang, Chairperson of the Foundation
Park Ji-hyang, chairperson of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, who was recently suspended from her duties by the Ministry of Education, is returning to work following a court decision to stay the disciplinary action.
The 7th Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Senior Judge Kang Woo-chan) accepted Park's request for a stay of execution against the Ministry of Education's suspension on the 21st.
This comes about 20 days after the Ministry of Education notified Park of her suspension on the 28th of last month.
Park is reportedly expected to return to the foundation as early as the 25th.
Following a controversy over the Hwandan Gogi, the Ministry of Education launched an investigation into the Northeast Asian History Foundation and subsequently notified Park of her suspension, citing budget misuse.
In addition to Chairperson Park, 23 other foundation officials were reportedly subjected to disciplinary measures.
Expressing her opposition to the ministry's decision, Park filed a main lawsuit on the 3rd seeking to cancel the measure, alongside an application for a stay of execution.
The court accepted Park's request.
The court stated that it was not sufficiently explained whether the expenditures questioned by the Ministry of Education constituted unauthorized budget spending, or if Park had the intent to commit occupational embezzlement.
It also judged that it was difficult to conclude that there was a necessity and justification substantial enough to suspend Park's duties based on these allegations.
In accordance with the court ruling, the suspension of Chairperson Park will remain halted until 30 days after the ruling of the first instance trial in the main lawsuit.
Park, who majored in British history, has served as a member of the National Institute of Korean History, director of the Seoul National University Library, and a history committee member for the Presidential Committee on Humanities and Spiritual Culture. She was appointed as the 7th chairperson of the foundation in December 2023 under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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