Professor disciplined after saying ‘8 in 10 Korean women’ engaged in prostitution

A professor at a Private University in South Korea’s Daejeon has been disciplined and removed from all teaching duties after allegedly making sexually inappropriate remarks to students during class.According to the university on Friday, the school’s foundation recently finalised disciplinary measures against the professor, identified only by the surname B.The university said B has been barred from teaching classes, providing academic counselling and performing other student guidance duties. The professor was also ordered to complete anti-recurrence training through the university’s Human Rights Centre to help prevent further incidents.The controversy began in November last year when a post criticising the professor’s classroom comments appeared on the university’s online community forum. Students later conducted their own survey and submitted a formal complaint to the school in December.According to students, the professor made comments including, “eight in 10 women in Korea have probably earned spending money through prostitution”.The professor was also accused of making remarks that could infringe on students’ personal dignity and rights.Students criticised the university for responding too slowly, saying the school continued to allow the professor to teach classes until recently, despite being aware of the allegations.The university did not disclose the exact level of disciplinary action imposed on the professor. However, local reports said the punishment did not include dismissal or termination.“We plan to further strengthen integrated violence-prevention education programmes for faculty and staff,” a university official said.Further Reading