A top South Korean ballerina has been disciplined and her wages cut after a topless photo of her was published in a magazine, officials said on Saturday, in a move condemned by newspapers here.
Ms
Kim Joo-won, a top performer with Korea National Ballet (KNB), has had a third of her salary deducted this month, after a ruling by the state-financed art troupe's disciplinary committee, a KNB spokesperson said.
'She was disciplined not just because she agreed to have her topless photos published but because she engaged in outside performance without receiving permission from KNB, in breach of KNB rules,' she said.
Ms Kim, 29, appeared naked from the waist up but wearing ballet shoes in one of her pictures published in the October issue of the Korean Vogue magazine.
She was sitting on the lap of her male friend and leading dancer of the National Dancing Company in the image, titled 'The One - Most Beautiful Couple.'
Ms Kim defended her action.
'I believed it would enhance public awareness in the pure art. I wanted to have my own body displayed without any disguise,' she said.
The independent Hankyoreh daily accused the KNB of 'hypocrisy.'
'KNB made a decision that will only restrain the freedom of artistic expression. The decision came even though KNB itself knows well that artists tend to challenge social custom and views that are considered natural,' it said.
The Joongang daily said the KNB's decision was 'anti-cultural' that discourages artistic spirit and creativity.