[Report] "Opposing Unilateral Coeducation Transition"... Sungshin Women's University Students Dressed in Black

All Genders Eligible to Apply for International Studies Department
Condolence Wreaths and Sprays Placed Throughout Campus
Students Say "Undermines the Reason for Women's College Existence"

"We ask President Lee Seong-geun: Is admitting male students to a women's university a response to changing times?"

On the afternoon of the 15th, the student council held a 'Protest Against the Admission of Male Students to the International Studies Department' at Donam Sujeong Campus of Sungshin Women's University. Photo by Yeom Dayeon

Lim Su-bin, president of the Sungshin Women's University student council, said at the 'International Department Recruitment Protest' held on the afternoon of the 15th at the Donam Sujeong Campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, "The possibility of male applicants for the International Department was not officially announced to students and was decided unilaterally. This could undermine the reason for the existence of a women's university and may lead to concerns about transitioning to coeducation." She added, "Sungshin Women's University was established solely to guarantee women's right to education. We cannot entrust the future of Sungshin to the university administration that does not face the essence and founding principles of a women's university."

About 1,200 enrolled students participated in the protest. All wore black clothing and chanted slogans such as "Sungshin's identity is female" and "Withdraw male admissions to Sungshin Women's University." Song (21) pointed out, "The president said he would not transition to coeducation, but he did not say that male students would not be admitted to the International Department, which is a contradictory stance," and added, "Once men attend, it is no longer a women's university."

Alumni also supported the opposition to the transition to coeducation. Woo (26) emphasized, "Students should be the main decision-makers, but unilaterally deciding to admit male students without mutual agreement does not feel democratic," and stressed, "Male students should not be admitted in accordance with the name of a women's university." Jung (25) criticized, "Why would men want to study at a women's university?"

A piece of paper with phrases such as "Namja X" and tape are attached to the founder's statue at the Donamsujeong Campus of Sungshin Women's University. Photo by Yeom Dayeon

A sign reading "Students did not give permission" is placed at the main gate of the Donamsujeong Campus of Sungshin Women's University. Photo by Yeom Dayeon

On the 1st, Sungshin Women's University announced in the '2025 Academic Year Early Foreign Special Admission Transfer Recruitment Guidelines' that the newly established International Department would accept applicants of all genders without distinction, which has sparked ongoing student backlash. On the 13th, the university issued a statement under President Lee Seong-geun's name, rebutting that "the establishment of the International Department is completely unrelated to the transition to coeducation."

Throughout the Sungshin Women's University campus, phrases such as "Men Out," "Condemn Sungshin Administration's Arbitrary and Unilateral Actions," and "Even if it disappears..." were spray-painted in black. Several large posters were posted on bulletin boards with slogans like "Firm Opposition to Male Admissions in the International Department" and "Only Women Are Within Sungshin's Walls." The founder's statue was covered with eggs and tape, and condolence wreaths were placed around the campus. The university clarified, "The issues related to coeducation transitions at other women's universities are clearly different from Sungshin Women's University's situation."

On the 15th, at a protest held at Sungshin Women's University Donam Sujeong Campus, a performance was conducted where a male student's admission certificate was marked with an 'X'. Photo by Yeom Dayeon

Currently, protests opposing coeducation that began at Dongduk Women's University are spreading to six women's universities nationwide. Students at Dongduk Women's University have continued sit-ins and inspections on campus following discussions about transitioning to coeducation. Red spray-painted slogans such as "We will not open even if we disappear," "Firm Opposition to Coeducation Transition," and "Democratic Dongduk is Dead" are seen around campus, and department jackets (gwajam) have been placed as a form of protest.

Meanwhile, a man in his 20s who trespassed at Dongduk Women's University was apprehended by police the previous day. Mr. A reportedly stated that he entered the school to clean the bust of the university's founder, Jo Dong-sik. A police official explained, "We are monitoring for possible crimes, as threatening posts about violent acts at women's universities have recently appeared on social media (SNS). As a precaution, patrols and preventive activities have been strengthened around women's universities and the surrounding areas."