Duksung Women's University to Stop Admitting New Students to German and French Departments Next Year... Steps Toward Abolition

Duksung Women's University has decided not to admit new students to the Department of German Language and Literature and the Department of French Language and Literature starting from the 2025 academic year, effectively leading to the abolition of the two departments.

Exterior view of the Humanities and Social Sciences Building at Duksung Women's University. [Photo by Duksung Women's University]

According to Duksung Women's University on the 24th, the board of trustees of the Duksung Academy approved an amendment to the school regulations the day before, which includes not assigning new students to the Department of German Language and Literature and the Department of French Language and Literature, and establishing a new Department of Liberal Studies with a capacity of 259 students.

A representative of Duksung Women's University explained, "This was pursued for the school’s long-term survival and development amid the continuing decline in the school-age population."

On the 26th of last month, Kim Geon-hee, president of Duksung Women's University, announced the amendment to the school regulations, stating that "the academic structure of majors that are unsustainable, such as those that received the lowest evaluation in the 2023 academic year, must be reorganized."

This is the third time President Kim has announced the amendment to the school regulations containing the plan not to assign new students to the two departments, following announcements in June last year and February this year. The previous two announcements were both rejected by the University Council, which deliberates and advises on university operations, but the same amendment was announced again about a month later. Ultimately, it was approved with 7 votes in favor and 5 against at the University Council meeting held on the 5th.

This is the first known case among universities in Seoul where the Departments of German Language and Literature and French Language and Literature are simultaneously being phased out. It is reported that there are voices of opposition within the university regarding this decision.