Dongduk Women's University, 21 including Student Council President sued... "Will hold main perpetrators accountable"

Statement on the 2nd: "Property Damage and Decline in University Prestige"

Dongduk Women's University described the situation of on-campus protests triggered by rumors of transitioning to a coeducational system as causing "unimaginable damage" and stated that it will hold the leading students strictly accountable.

On the 2nd, Dongduk Women's University issued a statement under the name of Lee Min-ju, the Director of Academic Affairs and Chairperson of the Emergency Response Committee, expressing regret over "the student council's attitude lacking any reflection or sense of responsibility." The statement added, "The university will strictly hold the leading students, including the student council, accountable," emphasizing that "the longer the occupation continues, the heavier the responsibility becomes."

Minju Lee, Emergency Response Committee Chairperson and Dean of Academic Affairs at Dongduk Women's University, along with the deans, are waiting outside the building on the 25th in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, before meeting with the student council. Photo by Yonhap News

Chairperson Lee said, "The damage caused by this illegal act is unimaginable," citing property damage amounting to tens of billions of won, the decline in the university's reputation, social prejudice against students who did not participate in the protests, and disadvantages in employment.

Regarding the student council's demand to resolve absences caused by class boycotts, the university explained, "We will take into consideration that some students participated in the class boycott under coercion and threats."

The Dongduk Women's University student council announced the previous day that they would lift the occupation of the main building if the university accepts their conditions, which include an apology for the discussion of transitioning to coeducation, discussions about the transition with the next student council, and normalization of attendance records for class boycotts.

Statement from Dongduk Women's University. Provided by Dongduk Women's University.

However, the university reportedly took a stern stance by filing a complaint under the president's name against the student council president and 21 unidentified individuals for charges including joint property damage and joint trespassing.

Earlier, on the 11th of last month, Dongduk Women's University students occupied the entire campus and protested by spray-painting slogans opposing the transition to coeducation on building exteriors, sidewalks, and asphalt roads.

The university filed a provisional injunction with the Seoul Northern District Court requesting that the students be ordered to vacate the main building and also submitted a complaint to the police. The police are currently conducting four investigations related to Dongduk Women's University. They are tracking the author of an online threat stating "I will stab Dongduk Women's University." Investigations into three cases of trespassing have been completed with suspect interrogations.

Meanwhile, the students occupying the main building are reportedly considering legal countermeasures. The student council is communicating with lawyers and preparing legal responses regarding the university's provisional injunction requesting them to leave the main building.