A news report alleged that Dongshin University gave four then BEAST members preferential treatment regarding attendance, scholarships, and performance.
In a dizzying report on August 12, SBS “8 O’Clock News” reported that Dongshin University provided preferential treatment not only to public officials but K-pop idols too.
According to the news program’s exclusive investigation som,e of the privileges given to these individuals included “convenience in attendance, scholarships, and graduation” with below-standard performance. Further, the university’s 2011 records indicate that it gave four people a “special scholarship” or marked them with an “X,” indicating that they cannot take classes like regular students. A school dean signed the form.
In the report, the “8 O’Clock News” cast suspicion on former BEAST members Yoon Doo-joon, Yong Jun-hyung, Lee Gi-Kwang, and Jang Hyun-seung as these four people. The four singer all started attended Dongshin University, South Jeolla Province, simultaneously in 2010. With that said, the SBS program has claimed that the four former group members attended and graduated from the university without doing the necessary work.
In a follow-up report, the show hypothesized that the university provided preferential treatment to meet state-mandated quotas for new admissions in order to get a subsidy.
In response, both Donshin University and Cube Entertainment the former agency of BEAST and Jang Hyun-seung’s current management denied the allegations.
Dongshin University said in a statement that they “did not order or provide any special treatment to students who could not attend class” like other attendees of the university. Similarly, Cube Entertainment said that they “are trying to understand the exact situation” and are inquiring employees who were in charge of BEAST in the past. Once they find something conclusive, the agency place to “an effort to deliver an official position as soon as possible.”
The two responses come hours after Around Us Entertainment, the agency of HIGHLIGHT (formerly BEAST and sans Jang Hyun-seung) issued a denial of the claims. In a statement, the company said the now HIGHLIGHT member attended classes as regularly as they could manage. However, due to their schedule, they would make requests from time-to-time to take required tests separately at university-sanctioned times.
Meanwhile, preferential treatment of celebrities has become a hot-button issue. Earlier this year, CNBLUE Jong Yong-hwa and 2AM Jo Kwon were accused of being accepted and attending different universities under suspicious circumstances.
Translated by O.C
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