"Dongduk Women's University, Like a Company Treating a Union"...Sharp Criticism from Former President Professor

Dongduk Women's University "Will Strictly Hold Responsible" Statement Released
Professor Park Nam-gi, Former President of Gwangju National University of Education
"Students Should Have Been Involved as Communication Subjects"

Lacquer painted on the campus of Dongduk Women's University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Professor Park Nam-gi, former president of Gwangju National University of Education and former president of the Korean Society for Teacher Education, commented on the Dongduk Women's University incident, saying, "It seems like a company dealing with a labor union."

According to a report by NoCut News on the 3rd, Professor Park said in a phone interview with the media the day before, "The Dongduk Women's University Student Council presented five demands and showed a conciliatory gesture by considering lifting the occupation of the main building, but the school is responding strongly in the opposite direction," opening his remarks with, "It seems like a company dealing with a labor union." He continued, "The school also showed immaturity from the initial stage of the (engineering discussion)," and pointed out, "The school said it was not the time to ask for students' opinions in terms of procedure, but students should have been involved as communication subjects from the agenda-setting stage."

Professor Park also recalled resolving the tuition increase issue during his tenure as president. He explained, "When faced with the situation of having to raise tuition during my presidency, I involved all students from the very beginning of the budget-making process as soon as my term started," and added, "In December, we held more than 30 meetings led by the student council and raised the tuition-related fees by about 25%." Furthermore, he emphasized, "After the increase decision, the Ministry of Education told us to restore the original state. I even heard that if there were any objections from students on the internet, there would be disciplinary actions. However, no student raised any objections. Because students participated in every stage from the start, they understood the entire situation."

Regarding the issue of school property damage compensation, Professor Park suggested, "The financial loss should be handled by the school in consultation not only with the student council but also with various organizations such as the alumni association," and proposed, "It would be desirable to raise additional development funds to compensate for the financial loss." He added, "The transition to coeducation was likely a desperate measure proposed by the university to solve survival issues, but I think the students' opinions should have been listened to and heard extensively during the process of promoting it."

Earlier, Dongduk Women's University filed a complaint with the police against 21 students who occupied the main building in opposition to the transition to coeducation. On the 2nd, they issued a statement under the name of Lee Min-joo, director of the Academic Affairs Office and emergency response committee chairperson, saying, "We regret the Student Council's attitude, which shows no reflection or sense of responsibility," and warned, "The university will strictly hold the leading students, including the Student Council, accountable. The longer the occupation continues, the heavier the responsibility becomes."