Isolated After Attempting Entry Through 3rd Floor Window
Police Send Home Without Further Investigation
According to a report by Money Today on the 6th, 10 students currently enrolled at Dongduk Women's University became stranded after climbing a ladder to enter the main building of the school and were sent home after about 50 minutes.
At around 8 p.m. the previous day, the Jongam Police Station in Seoul received a 112 emergency call reporting that 10 Dongduk Women's University students had climbed a structure as high as the third floor of the main building on the Dongduk Women's University campus in Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. It was investigated that the 10 students climbed the ladder to the structure trying to enter the building through a window. However, the window was of a type that could not be accessed from the outside, so they were unable to enter the building.
According to a report by Money Today on the 6th, 10 students from Dongduk Women's University were stranded while climbing a ladder to enter the main building of the school and were sent home after about 50 minutes. Around 8 p.m. the previous day, the Jongam Police Station in Seoul received a 112 emergency call reporting that 10 Dongduk Women's University students were on a structure about three stories high at the main building of Dongduk Women's University campus in Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News Agency
Police and firefighters who responded to the report dismantled the window to allow the students to safely enter the building. The students came down about 50 minutes after the report was received and were sent home without further investigation. It was confirmed that there was no conflict during this process. The Dongduk Women's University Student Council announced on the 4th through an emergency notice that they had decided to lift the occupation of the main building. However, some dissatisfied students continue to attempt to occupy the main building.
Police Launch Investigation into Dongduk Women's University Incident... 19 Individuals Including Accused Student Council Identified
Earlier, on the 2nd, Dongduk Women's University issued a statement under the name of Emergency Response Committee Chair Lee Min-ju, firmly stating that they could not accept students' demands to completely withdraw discussions on transitioning to a coeducational system and to apologize. The previous day, the Student Council had presented conditions for lifting the occupation of the main building, including ▲ an apology from the school regarding the coeducation discussion ▲ discussions on the coeducation issue with the next Student Council ▲ normal attendance processing for students who voluntarily refused classes, but these were directly refuted within a day. Subsequently, Dongduk Women's University filed complaints with the police against students who protested against the transition to coeducation. They also submitted a provisional injunction to the court requesting the removal of students occupying the main building.
Chair Lee stated, "Anyone can freely engage in discussions for the development of the university," emphasizing, "Professors, staff, and alumni are also members of the school with rights and responsibilities, and the claim that discussions must be unconditionally withdrawn just because some students oppose it is unreasonable and arbitrary." She continued, "I regret the Student Council's attitude, which shows no reflection or sense of responsibility regarding the illegality of this incident," and criticized, "The damage caused by illegal acts is unimaginable. The property damage amounting to tens of billions of won and the mental harm suffered by many members are indescribable." However, regarding the demand to normalize attendance for class refusals, she left room for consideration, saying, "I will take into account that some students participated in class refusal due to coercion and pressure."
Following the school's complaint, the police have launched an investigation into the Dongduk Women's University Student Council and others. Some students, including the Student Council, are expected to bear large compensation costs, and all participants in the protests are likely to face disadvantages. At a regular press briefing on the 2nd, Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, announced that Dongduk Women's University filed complaints under the name of the university president against 21 people, including the Student Council president and students, on charges of joint property damage, joint trespassing of a building, joint refusal to vacate, and obstruction of business. The police stated, "19 individuals with identified personal information and 2 unidentified persons have been specified." Meanwhile, the Dongduk Women's University Student Council has announced plans for legal action. The Student Council released a statement the previous day saying, "Since reports that the university headquarters would file a provisional injunction, we have been in continuous communication with lawyers," and "We are preparing legal responses."
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