Beast members among K-pop stars whose diplomas were cancelled by Ministry of Education
- Lee Gi-kwang, Yong Jun-hyung, Yoon Doo-joon, and Jang Hyun-seung all lost their diplomas
- The Ministry of Education cancelled the certificates due to lack of attendance
By Jung Hae-myoung
South Korea’s Ministry of Education cancelled the college diplomas of seven K-pop stars after finding their school provided credits to them even though they did not attend enough classes to fulfil the requirements for graduation.
They are four members of the boy band Beast (now known as Highlight) Lee Gi-kwang, Yong Jun-hyung, Yoon Doo-joon, and Jang Hyun-seung; Seo Eun-kwang and Yook Sung-jae from boy group BtoB; and folk singer-songwriter Chu Ga-yeoul.
The celebrities entered Dongshin University’s broadcasting and entertainment department, but rarely showed up at school due to their busy schedules.
The university explained that according to its policy, broadcasting activities can be counted as attendance, but the rule was set up in 2015 and the singers enrolled at the school before then.
Aside from attendance, the school gave scholarships worth 59.5 million won (US$53,172) to some of them from 2010 to 2011 without due procedure.
Chu had also taught students there as a lecturer while enrolled as a student.
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“The ministry will take stern action against corruption regarding college entrance and diplomas, as it gives huge social impact and shakes the foundation of whole educational institutions,” Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said.
