Former Principal of National Traditional Arts Middle and High School Arrested Over Hiring Corruption Allegations

A former principal of the National Traditional Arts Middle and High School, who is a master pansori singer and under police investigation over hiring corruption allegations, has been arrested.

Today (October 29), Judge Kim Jin-man, the senior judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) for Wang, 63, who is accused of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, and issued an arrest warrant, stating that there are concerns over the destruction of evidence and flight.

Wang is suspected of receiving 100 million won from an individual identified as A, who was hired as a pansori teacher during a teacher recruitment process conducted in November 2024.

Police have been investigating Wang on suspicions that he also received money and valuables in exchange for hiring another teacher, identified as B, who was hired as a pansori teacher through the same recruitment exam.

Police reportedly uncovered evidence of recruitment corruption involving B from materials secured during a search and seizure conducted in June at the residence and school of A in connection with the allegations.

Wang served as the principal of the National Traditional Arts Middle and High School in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, from 2017 until last year.

(File Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.