More corruption smears at the Seoul Philharmonic

The power tribes in South Korea are raising further allegations against the Seoul Philharmonic music director Myung Whun Chung, alleging that his wife was involved in the dismissal of former SPO chief executive, Park Hyun-jung, a hereditary member of the ruling elites.

The latest allegations have appeared in the Korea Times, mouthpiece of the elites. Mrs Chung has received a police summons on a defamation charge. The board of the SPO meets today to discuss Mr Chung’s contract. The wealthy Ms Park is said to have set up a ‘revenge office’ south of the river to pursue her grievances against the Chungs.

The flare-up comes at the end of a year in which Korean artists achieved unprecedented triumphs at the Chopin Competition and other global summits. But power does not like to be challenged and talent is no match for hereditary wealth and political control.