He had been hired at his alma mater.
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Musical actor Han Ji Sang was appointed as a lecturer in the Acting Arts Department at the prestigious Sungkyunkwan University, but was later replaced amid student backlash.
Actor Han Ji Sang | Yonhap
On March 9, 2026 (KST), the department’s faculty announced in an official notice that the instructor for the voice class for the first semester of 2026 would be replaced.
The faculty of Sungkyunkwan University’s Acting Arts Department, after discussions with the university administration and a faculty meeting, has decided to proceed with the course by replacing the originally appointed instructor, Han Ji Sang.
— Sungkyunkwan University
The class in question is a required course for first-year students, and the university had to quickly find a replacement after the previously appointed instructor was recently hired as a full-time professor at another school in February. During that process, Han Ji Sang—an alumnus of the department—was recommended. The faculty explained that they had positively evaluated his achievements, acting experience, and enthusiasm for mentoring his hoobae students. The faculty also noted that Han Ji Sang’s past scandal had been discussed during the review process. Given that the actor had suffered significant damage due to worsening public opinion surrounding the incident, and that faculty members had shared concerns about a social climate in which a person’s entire life can be irreparably stigmatized by a single incident, the faculty ultimately finalized his appointment through official procedures.
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However, after Han Ji Sang’s appointment was officially announced, criticism emerged on social media regarding the ethics of allowing an actor associated with controversy to teach at the university. On March 5, a protest poster addressing the issue was reportedly posted on campus.
A protest poster titled “We, the students, want to learn in a safe space.” | xportsnews
According to the faculty, the poster was later removed without sufficient discussion among department members, including professors, which ultimately blocked communication with students who would actually be taking the class. The faculty acknowledged responsibility for the situation, stating that the department had failed to create a culture where members could freely and safely express diverse opinions. They added that they would establish stricter standards and communication procedures to ensure students’ educational rights are protected.
They further pledged that if even one student feels unsafe in the school’s educational environment, they will make every effort to address the issue, adding that they will move forward with stricter ethical standards and greater sensitivity in their educational approach.
The faculty’s statement following student backlash. | EduKorea News
In 2020, Han Ji Sang was accused of sexually harassing a female fan. At the time, his agency stated that after his relationship with the woman—identified as Woman A—cooled despite the two previously having mutual feelings in 2018, he had been threatened beginning in 2019 with demands to apologize for sexual harassment, meet publicly, or pay a large sum of money. Han Ji Sang subsequently filed a complaint against the woman for attempted extortion and coercion, but prosecutors ultimately decided not to indict her.
His side later clarified that while the prosecution dismissed the alleged threats he raised, authorities also confirmed that Han Ji Sang’s actions did not constitute sexual assault, adding that police investigations likewise found no evidence of forced sexual harassment.