[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Voices supporting the admission of transgender student A (22), who was accepted into the College of Law at Sookmyung Women's University, are continuing to grow. On social networking services (SNS), a hashtag campaign celebrating A's admission to Sookmyung Women's University is also underway.
Since the 3rd, Twitter has seen a campaign delivering messages of support with the hashtag '#CongratulationsOnYourAcceptance_WeAreHere'.
Netizens participating in this campaign posted messages such as, "As an alumna, I hope you cherish the fact that many people are celebrating your acceptance and enjoy your university life," "I saw an interview where the admitted student was exhausted by hateful remarks, so I want to let you know that there are people who do not share those views," and "I hope you receive more congratulations and feel safe during your university life. I hope you feel comfortable being yourself."
On the 2nd, the Sookmyung Women's University Student and Minority Rights Committee (Hakso-wi) posted a statement of support on SNS for A (22), a transgender individual who was admitted to the College of Law. / Photo by Sookmyung Women's University Student and Minority Rights Committee Facebook capture
Earlier, on the 2nd, the Sookmyung Women's University Student and Minority Rights Committee (Hakso-wee) issued a statement welcoming A's acceptance. The statement will also be posted on campus bulletin boards.
Through Facebook, Hakso-wee stated, "Until now, people with various identities such as transgender and genderqueer have existed at women's universities. However, this is the first known case of a transgender woman applying to and being accepted by a women's university. Hakso-wee supports and congratulates the student who proudly revealed her identity."
They added, "The founding philosophy of women's universities is to provide educational rights to minorities who have been thoroughly excluded from educational institutions, including comprehensive universities at the time. The core goal of women's universities is to provide minority women with the right to education without gender-based discrimination and to create an equal society."
They further pointed out, "Carelessly denying a person's identity and debating for or against her admission contradicts the founding philosophy of women's universities. Opposing the admission of transgender women to women's universities in the name of feminism is clear discrimination and hatred."
On the 3rd, some alumni of Sookmyung Women's University issued a statement titled "Welcoming the student who was finally accepted to Sookmyung Women's University as a transgender person in the name of the alumni" and are collecting online signatures.
They said, "She met the required scores and procedural conditions for admission to our university and passed confidently. We express our gratitude for her beautiful courage in overcoming difficulties in her life so far and choosing our university as another stage of her life."
At the same time, they said, "Despite this joyful news, hateful and discriminatory remarks are pouring out from some inside and outside the campus. We sense a serious problem as there is even an atmosphere that promotes hatred, exclusion, and division, which do not align with our university's vision, mission, and values."
They continued, "Sookmyung Women's University was founded to provide education and solidarity for women, who are socially vulnerable in a patriarchal society. Sookmyung students have challenged the 'femininity' created by patriarchy and paved new paths. Accompanying and showing solidarity with socially vulnerable and minority groups is the starting point for Sookmyung people and a value that must continue to expand."
Meanwhile, Sookmyung Women's University announced on the 30th of last month that A, who underwent gender reassignment surgery, was finally accepted through the regular admission process for the 2020 academic year. A underwent gender reassignment surgery in August of last year and was granted permission for gender correction by the court in October of the same year.
Sookmyung Women's University judged that there is no problem with A's admission as she has completed the necessary procedures, including changing her resident registration number.
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