The bust of former Dongduk Women’s University founder and former director Joyoong Kaky was smeared with filth. Reporter Park Ji-young.
[Herald Economy = Reporter Na Eun-jung] A man in his 20s was arrested by the police for trespassing late at night on the campus of Dongduk Women’s University, where students are staging a sit-in protest against the school’s discussion of transitioning to a coeducational system.
On the 15th, the Seoul Jongam Police Station announced that the previous day, around 9:30 PM, they had arrested a man in his 20s, identified as A, for trespassing into the Dongduk Women’s University campus in Seongbuk-gu and getting into an altercation with a security guard.
According to the police, A entered the school with the intention of cleaning a bust of the late former director Joyoong Kaky, which had been defiled with eggs, ketchup, and flour, after seeing related news reports about the ongoing conflict at Dongduk Women’s University over the coeducational transition issue.
A 60-year-old security guard discovered A and tried to stop him, leading to an altercation, and A was arrested on the spot by the responding police officers.
A police official stated, “We believe the man entered through the rear gate where security was lax, and we plan to investigate the details.”
At the front gate of the school, dozens of wreaths opposing the transition to a coeducational system, set up by Dongduk Women’s University students, were lined up. Reporter Park Ji-young.
Meanwhile, at Dongduk Women’s University, students have been occupying all buildings, including the main building, for five days since the 11th, continuing their protest. Throughout the campus, spray-painted slogans such as “We will disappear rather than open up,” “Absolute opposition to coeducation,” “The students are the owners of Dongduk,” and “President resign” can be seen, along with rows of wreaths creating a bleak atmosphere.
The bust of former director Joyoong Kaky installed in front of the main building was defaced with ketchup, flour, and eggs, and more than 400 department jackets have been laid down in protest.
The student council stated, “Dongduk students are unitedly demanding the withdrawal of the coeducation discussion. (The school) should apologize for the rash discussion that disregarded students.”
Students opposing the push for the transition to coeducation at Dongduk Women’s University block the door from the inside of the main building in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. The school has stated that the coeducation transition is not yet a confirmed matter. [Union News]