정몽준 의원, 명예철학박사학위 수여 무산

Last February, I heard that Chonnam National University (CNU) secretly moved to award an honorary doctor of philosophy degree to Mr. Chung Mong-joon. CNU’s plan to give an honorary Ph.D. to him failed twice before in 2007 and again in 2009 due to strong opposition and protests by CNU students and faculty. Although CNU Administration should know well enough that students and professors would never agree to give the honorary diploma to him from the two previous protests, CNU attempted it once more, for the third time, in secret.
CNU presented some justifiable reasons to award the degree, but most people affiliated with CNU know these are superficial and the real reason is to gain financial support or benefits from Hyundai Group because Mr. Chung is the son of its founder and the largest shareholder of Hyundai Heavy Industry. Whatever the justifications are, good or bad, it is hard to accept the university administration’s reasons to offer the degree. His doings are hardly related to honor of CNU, which is a stronghold of democracy and human rights, and the iconic school of the 5.18 Democracy Movement. Moreover, the ruling Grand National Party of which he was the former chief is the successor of the military government which repressed the movement at that time. If he were not rich and a son of a large corporation, his name would not have been commented on as the candidate of the honorary doctorate degree.
Some may say the award would not be on the table if CNU could get financial and material support elsewhere. They take no notice what would be exchanged for this support and think it is a necessity. However, it is not that simple. The following predictions show why selling honor is not an issue to be taken lightly. After receiving the Ph.D. from CNU, he would assert that he was formally recognized for his achievement by CNU, the center of democracy and human rights and appeal for support to Honam Province citizens. By the way, what happen if Chung Mong-joon were elected to a major position, supported by Jeolla Province citizens who changed their minds about him because CNU granted him an honorary doctorate? And before long, if he is involved in a scandal or if he makes it his business to do something against human rights, CNU would not be free of the responsibility for the award and criticism against CNU would harsher than any universities which give an honorary degree without a reasonable cause. The honor of CNU, accumulated through sacrifices of our predecessors, would also have been damaged. These are real possibilities though they might rather excessive. And, what do CNU students learn from the university’s intention to award Mr. Chung with an honorary degree? They might accept naturally buying academic value with money without examining it critically. What kind of future would that produce?
Fortunately, in 2011, the awarding ceremony was not conducted because students and professors of the Philosophy Department strongly expressed their opposition. However, there is a suspicious rumor that the plan itself to give him a Ph.D. has not been canceled but only delayed. I seriously hope that this is not true and a fourth attempt would never occur.
By Lee Han-na, Guest Reporter
#307 Student Column
저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지