'Former Traditional Arts High School Principal Wang Gi-cheol Arrested over Alleged Receipt of 220 Million Won in Exchange for Teacher Hiring'

[Financial News] Pansori master singer Wang Gi-cheol, 63, former principal of the National Middle and High School of Traditional Arts, has been arrested on suspicion of receiving more than 100 million won in connection with teacher hiring.
According to legal sources on the 29th, Kim Jin-man, a senior judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest suspect questioning for Wang, the former principal, who is suspected of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, and issued an arrest warrant. The reason for the arrest cited by Judge Kim was “the risk of destroying evidence and fleeing.”
Wang is suspected of receiving 220 million won in exchange for teacher hiring while serving as principal of the National Middle and High School of Traditional Arts. Police believe he received 100 million won from an applicant for a pansori teaching post and 120 million won from an applicant for a jeongga teaching post (traditional vocal music, including gagok, gasa and sijo) in the 2025 school-year teacher appointment examination. Police plan to broaden the investigation to determine whether there were further requests for favors related to hiring after taking Wang into custody.
Wang is also under investigation for alleged violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, apart from the allegations of irregularities in teacher hiring. A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit revealed that he received a business-class airline ticket while attending an international exchange event in the United States and Canada in 2024. He is suspected of having been given a business-class ticket separately, while all other participants traveled in economy class, contrary to the terms of the contract at the time. The Seoul Geumcheon Police Station is investigating the case.

[email protected] Chang-hun Lee Reporter