Suncheon university official urged staff to join Democratic Party at official meeting

Acting president told attendees party membership needed 'for university's benefit and development'

The acting president of Cheongam University of Technology, a two-year college in Suncheon, has drawn controversy after allegedly encouraging faculty and staff to join a specific political party at an official meeting.

While private school employees are free to join political parties, it is a violation of the Public Official Election Act — specifically Article 85 — for a university president or acting president to use their position or professional influence to solicit or pressure subordinates into party membership.

According to the university and education sector sources Tuesday, Acting President Kim — identified only by surname — recently convened an expanded executive meeting at the university's main administrative building, attended by about 50 people including senior administrators, department heads and team leaders.

At the entrance to the meeting room, Democratic Party membership application forms were placed in front of the sign-in sheet, effectively encouraging attendees to join.

Kim reportedly told those present that joining the party was "voluntary," but added: "Please join the party for the benefit and development of the university. If any political problems arise, I will take responsibility."

Toward the end of the meeting, Kim also emphasized that the local constituency's National Assembly member sits on the Assembly's Education Committee, and used that point to further encourage attendees to sign up, sources said.

Suncheon was once the constituency that sent Lee Jeong-hyeon — a lawmaker of Saenuri Party, the predecessor to the People Power Party — to two consecutive terms. It remains a hotly contested district today, with fierce competition for Democratic Party nominations and Reform Party lawmaker Cheon Ha-ram among those eyeing the seat.

Several professors said the acting president's solicitation felt like pressure that was difficult to refuse, given that he holds authority over personnel decisions.

Some professors are reportedly preparing to file an audit request with the Ministry of Education, characterizing the incident as a serious abuse of authority by a university administrator.

Kim acknowledged the controversy, saying he had only told staff to join "if they wanted to participate voluntarily" and that there had been no coercion. "I apologize for causing a controversy," he added.

The university traces its roots to the Suncheon Nursing High School of Technology, founded in 1954. It later became Suncheon Nursing Junior College before being renamed Cheongam University of Technology in honor of its founder, known by the pen name Cheongam Kang Gil-tae.