Students from the Student Countermeasures Committee for Professor Ryu Seok-chun of the Department of Sociology at Yonsei University are holding a "Relay Speech and Rally Condemning Professor Ryu Seok-chun" in front of the Student Union Building at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University's Department of Sociology, who caused controversy by comparing Japanese military comfort women to prostitution during a lecture and making sexually harassing remarks to a student who protested his comments, has been assigned classes for the first semester of this year. Students are demanding his dismissal from his professorship.
The 'Student Countermeasure Committee for the Ryu Seok-chun Professor Incident' at Yonsei University held a rally on the 13th in front of the student union building at Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, calling for Professor Ryu's dismissal.
The committee raised their voices, saying, "Dismiss Professor Ryu Seok-chun, a perpetrator of sexual violence, to protect students' right to education."
Kim Eun-gyeol, co-chair of the Student Countermeasure Committee, said, "It has been about four months since the incident occurred on September 19, 2019. Students who were hurt by Professor Ryu have continuously demanded an apology and his dismissal, but the school still says it is 'resolving the matter according to procedure' without providing any concrete answers. We demand a meeting with the president for a safe classroom and the full educational rights students deserve."
Im Jae-kyung, a member of the Workers' Solidarity Yonsei University group, said, "We have no idea how the disciplinary action against Professor Ryu is progressing, and yet he has been assigned to teach a required course next semester. Professor Ryu is set to retire at the end of this semester. It raises suspicion that the school is trying to let him retire honorably. The school authorities should not assign him any classes," he criticized.
Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University's Department of Sociology, who caused controversy by stating that the Japanese military 'comfort women' were a form of prostitution, is heading to the classroom for the scheduled liberal arts class "The Founding and Development of the Republic of Korea" on the afternoon of September 26 last year at Baekyang Hall, Yonsei University Sinchon Campus, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, while responding to questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, in September last year, Professor Ryu stated during a lecture, "(The direct perpetrators against comfort women) are not Japan. (Comfort women) are a form of prostitution."
He also made sexually harassing remarks to a female student who raised concerns about his comments, saying, "If you're curious, try it once."
Yonsei University's Ethics and Human Rights Committee is reported to have concluded in its first meeting that disciplinary action should be taken against Professor Ryu.
Professor Ryu submitted a request for reconsideration regarding the decision, and accordingly, the Ethics and Human Rights Committee plans to hold a second meeting. The results of the second meeting are expected to be finalized through the personnel committee and disciplinary committee according to the university's disciplinary procedures.
Professor Ryu is scheduled to retire at the end of the first semester this year.
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