Dongduk Women's University Files Complaints Against 21 Including Students... 2 Unknown
School Suspects "Women's Party Officials Participated in Protest"
Police to Review Investigation into 'External Forces' Involvement Allegations
The Women’s Party, which has been actively voicing opposition to the protest held by Dongduk Women’s University students against the school administration’s discussion on transitioning to a coeducational system, has announced its intention to file a complaint against the board of directors of Dongduk Academy, which operates Dongduk Women’s University.
On the 25th, there was graffiti opposing the transition to coeducation on the campus of Dongduk Women's University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 2nd, the Women’s Party stated through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, “The target that Dongduk Women’s University should file a complaint against is not the students but the board of directors,” adding, “If the school turns a blind eye to the embezzlement and breach of trust by the private school foundation, the Women’s Party will not hesitate to request an audit of Dongduk Academy by the Ministry of Education and the Seoul Metropolitan Government based on the evidence we have secured, and to file a complaint against the board of directors.”
Earlier, Park Jin-sook, the Emergency Committee Chairperson of the Women’s Party, issued a statement saying, “We strongly oppose the unilateral plan to transition to coeducation at Dongduk Women’s University and other women’s universities,” and “We will fully support the struggle of female students.” The party pointed out issues such as “unauthorized use of a 1.5 billion won school-owned apartment” and “Cho Jin-wan, son of Chairman Cho Won-young, working as the head of general affairs” as cases of embezzlement and breach of trust.
Dongduk Women’s University views the recent protest as involving external forces, including the Women’s Party. Lee Min-joo, Emergency Committee Chairperson of Dongduk Women’s University (Dean of Academic Affairs), said in an interview with Weekly Chosun on the 29th of last month, “There are photos showing a Women’s Party official attending the protest. CCTV footage shows them moving as if executing a plan.” She added, “Until now, when there were student protests, they did not suddenly occupy spaces like this. We cannot know exactly who the external forces are without an investigation. Since there is circumstantial evidence of external involvement, we believe it is not right to blame only the students. An investigation is necessary to prevent innocent students from suffering.”
Previously, YTN broadcast footage of the Dongduk Women’s University students’ protest captured a person presumed to be a Women’s Party executive holding a placard that read “University Headquarters, Withdraw the Coeducation Transition.” In response, a comment on the Women’s Party’s X post announcing the plan to file a complaint against the Dongduk Academy board reads, “I heard external forces were involved in the Dongduk Women’s University students’ sit-in. Is that you?”
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated on the same day, “On November 26, a complaint was received under the name of the president of Dongduk Women’s University against 21 people, including student council members,” adding, “Among the 21, two are unidentified, and 19 have been identified.” When asked about suspicions of external forces being involved in the Dongduk Women’s University incident, a police official reportedly responded, “We will review whether an investigation is necessary through the complainant’s investigation.”
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