The police announced Thursday that its ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct by former Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Park Hyun-jung has found that the charges against the former head are false and fabricated by members of the SPO staff.
According to a statement issued by the police, the previous allegations that Park, 54, had verbally abused and sexually harassed staff are now being treated as a lie concocted by 10 members of the SPO staff who were looking to oust the former CEO. The investigation also confirmed suspicions that the wife of former SPO conductor Chung Myung-whun was involved in spreading false rumors against Park.
The police stated it is turning the case over to the prosecutors’ office.
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Former Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Park Hyun-jung (Yonhap) |
In December 2014, Park resigned as SPO’s CEO after ten SPO members filed a complaint with the police accusing her of sexually and verbally harassing them. Park was eventually acquitted of all charges last August and the ten employee complainants were then booked on charges of defamation.
Maestro Chung’s wife, 67, identified by her family name Koo, was also booked on a defamation charge last December, as she had been suspected of ordering Chung’s secretary to write and spread an anonymous letter alleging Park was abusive towards her staff. Chung’s wife is believed to be staying abroad since December.
The renowned local conductor eventually left the orchestra in January, after 10 years at its helm, amid all the allegations, including a probe into embezzlement accusations against him.
By Julie Jackson (
juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)
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