While still recovering from the shock of a recent string of student suicides, tragedy befell KAIST once again on April 10 as Tae Gwan Park, a professor of the Department of Biological Sciences, took his own life. Professor Park’s body was discovered by his wife at around 4 p.m. in his apartment where he had hung himself.

The exact reasons behind Professor Park’s suicide are as of yet unclear with the police only stating that the suicide note, which he wrote across three sheets of A4 paper, contained apologies to his wife, family and KAIST. The suicide note also contained no mention of the recent student suicides and it is believed that these two incidents are unrelated.

However, police investigation has revealed that Professor Park was suffering from severe stress after a Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) audit raised accusations that Professor Park had been embezzling research funds for private use and was to be examined by the prosecution. According to a comprehensive audit report sent to KAIST’s Board of Directors from the MEST last week, a number of KAIST professors had been targeted for disciplinary action. Specifically concerning Professor Park, it stated that he had been found guilty of having used some 22 million Korean Won out of funds totaling approximately 100 million Korean Won for private purposes and contained additional orders to recover the total amount.

Professor Park’s suicide has come as a shock for all at KAIST, especially as he was internationally renowned as a distinguished professor and researcher in his field of nano biomaterials. He was a recipient of the Clemson Award, as well as the 2010 KAISTian of the Year Award for his outstanding research.

In the wake of these tragic events, KAIST declared two days without class to provide an opportunity for students and professors in each department to gather and hold discussions regarding the source of the problems currently plaguing KAIST’s social and educational system.