"Who Would Use the School's Name to Go to a Room Salon?" Outrage of Dongduk Women's University Students

Current Students' Outrage Over Reckless Rumors
"Reveals Prejudice Against Women's University... Feels Like Defamation"

The YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute' (hereinafter referred to as Gaseyeon) mentioned the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment at Dongduk Women's University in a video related to actor Lee Seon-gyun's alleged drug use, causing a stir. Current students of the university are protesting, calling it "a prejudice against women's universities and a serious defamation."

In a broadcast of the YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute,' students from a specific university and department referred to themselves as 'room salon professional women,' sparking controversy.
[Photo by YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute' broadcast screen capture]

In an interview with on the 3rd, students of Dongduk Women's University expressed their displeasure at Gaseyeon's remarks. They pointed out that it was wrong to generalize by mentioning a specific department name, and that Gaseyeon has not complied with requests to delete the video.

A, a student in the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment at Dongduk Women's University, said, "The broadcasting industry is very small, and everyone knows each other within two degrees of separation." He added, "It doesn't make sense that someone who frequents entertainment establishments was identified by the school and department. If such a person existed, professors or classmates would have known."

He continued, "The Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment at Dongduk Women's University is a department with many external activities," and said, "Professors hear a lot about students from outside sources more than anyone else. However, no one within the school has heard anything related to room salons."

B, a graduate of the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment, said, "Every group has diverse people," and added, "I don't understand how statements made under Gaseyeon's influence implant biased views in many people and generalize them." He also expressed concerns about the repercussions given Gaseyeon's significant influence as a YouTuber.

He added, "Students in the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment at Dongduk Women's University have been recognized as excellent actors or singers, supporting each other as seniors and juniors. In reality, students from the department have a passionate and hardworking image on the field (shooting sites)," and said, "It is regrettable that this rumor has damaged the image that seniors and juniors have built through their efforts."

Another current student, C, said, "Dongduk Women's University students are hurt by indiscriminate articles," and added, "Gaseyeon was the first to mention it, and even if it were true, generalizing many students is wrong."

She also said, "People who see content related to women's universities and immediately criticize are mean," and added, "I hope they think at least once about their own daughter, older sister, or mother being caught up in such rumors."

This is interpreted as a reaction to the flood of articles and comments focusing only on 'women's universities' without fact-checking following the Gaseyeon-related article published on the 2nd.

Dongduk Women's University Student Council: "Heartbreaking feelings, please stop indiscriminate article production"

The YouTube channel 'Garoseuro Research Institute' (Gaseyeon) made remarks that tarnished the honor of Dongduk Women's University's Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment, prompting the university to announce that it is considering legal action.
[Photo by Dongduk Women's University Student Council Instagram capture]

The Dongduk Women's University Student Council also stated in an interview with on the 2nd, "We hope inaccurate articles do not spread indiscriminately."

Kim Seo-won, president of the Dongduk Women's University Student Council, said about the Gaseyeon controversy, "Something that should never have happened has happened," and added, "There are students hurt by the school's name being mentioned in sensational articles. We hope there will be no more 'jumping to conclusions' articles."

He continued, "This is a matter that seriously damages the school's honor," and said, "The school and the student council will respond actively."

Currently, students of Dongduk Women's University are filing complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission under the leadership of the student council.

At the request of the student council, Dongduk Women's University formed the 'YouTube False Information Countermeasures Committee' on the 31st, consisting of the student council leadership, emergency committee chair of the College of Performing Arts, dean of the College of Performing Arts, head professor of the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment, and the public relations office, and has begun official responses.

Dongduk Women's University campus.
Photo by Dongduk Women's University

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, Gaseyeon made remarks in a live broadcast titled 'Lee Seon-gyun-GD Drug Room Salon Regulars' implying that students of the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment at Dongduk Women's University frequented room salons and engaged in prostitution.

The video currently has 240,000 views. In response, Dongduk Women's University stated a strong stance, saying the remarks damaged the reputation of the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment and caused great harm to current students and alumni of the department.

According to Article 307 of the Criminal Act on 'Defamation,' if false facts are stated, the offender may be punished by imprisonment for up to five years, suspension of qualifications for up to ten years, or a fine of up to 10 million won. Even if true facts are stated, the offender may be punished by imprisonment or detention for up to two years or a fine of up to 5 million won.

A representative of Dongduk Women's University said, "We requested Gaseyeon to delete the problematic video, but it has not been deleted yet," and added, "Depending on the situation, we are considering legal actions such as filing a defamation lawsuit and submitting a complaint to the Korea Communications Standards Commission."