The Dongduk Women’s University student council and the university are engaged in a standoff as the deadline approaches for a student referendum on transitioning to a co-ed institution. According to university sources on the 8th, the student council will close the “Survey of 8,000 Dongduk members on transitioning to co-ed” at 7:30 p.m. The results are expected to be announced as early as that night.
Initially, the student referendum was planned to be completed by the 5th. However, it was later realized that not only current students but also alumni were eligible to vote, leading the student council to extend the voting period by one weekday. This decision, based on election regulations and legal consultations, aims to achieve a majority voter turnout from the entire student body. As of 5 p.m. on the 5th, the turnout was only 45.18%.
By 4 p.m. on the 8th, the voter turnout reached 48.6%. The vote can only be counted if the overall turnout surpasses 50%.
The student referendum aims to convey students’ opinions on coeducation to the university. The student council argues that students, who represent the largest portion of the university community, have not been adequately considered in discussions about transitioning to a co-ed format.
The “Student Union” composed of Dongduk students criticized the university through an online poster, questioning why decision-making structures equate the voices of approximately 3,000 students with 163 staff members, and how indicators are calculated.
In response, the university posted a statement titled “Announcement on the Co-ed Transition Process and Inclusion of Member Opinions” on its website, countering the students’ claims. The university explained that the represented ratio for professors, students, staff, and alumni (1:1:1:1) in the co-ed transition discussions is a democratic attempt to allow all university members to participate equally, rather than giving weighted influence based on group size.
The university also referenced other universities’ examples, stating that student participation was significantly reflected in Dongduk’s transition discussions. They noted that despite student representatives’ involvement ensuring a democratic decision-making process, some representatives and students have opposed the final recommendation because it differed from their personal stance, thereby not respecting mutual agreements.
Regarding this, a university spokesperson clarified that the mention was not specifically targeting the student referendum but was a general remark, emphasizing respect for formal procedures.
The university plans to hold a development plan briefing session on the 15th at 2 p.m. This was previously announced following Dongduk University’s president Myung-ae Kim’s public statement on the co-ed transition on the 3rd.