SNU has first lesbian student president
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Kim Bo-mi
The nation’s top university, Seoul National University (SNU), will have its first student leader who is a lesbian.
The SNU election committee said Friday that Kim Bo-mi, 23, received 7,674 votes, or 86.8 percent, from a total of 8,813 student votes cast during the four-day election which began on Nov. 16.
Voter turnout was 53.3 percent ― the student council’s law stipulates that it should exceed 50 percent for the election to be valid. If the voter turnout would have been less than 50 percent, the committee would have extended the voting period.
It is also the first time in the last 18 years for the university to elect a student leader without having extended the voting period, which reflects the students’ interest in this election.
“I congratulate our new president, Kim. She will do many things, especially for minorities, including the disabled and LGBTs,” said Kwon Dong-an, a biology student.
Graduate Jeong Dong-ju also hailed Kim. “I am very proud of the students’ decision,” Jeong said.
Elected as the school’s 58th student president, the Consumer and Child Studies major announced her sexual orientation during her speech, Nov. 4, saying she wants her school to be a place in which no one has to live with discrimination because of their lifestyle.
Also having served the school as a vice president with the current president, Joo Moo-yeol, the 23-year-old resigned from her post shortly before the election to run for president with the campaign slogan, “Moving As One Toward Diversity.” She ran unopposed.
Under school regulations, the committee will finalize Kim’s election after a grace period of three days and officially inaugurate her as the Student Council president on Nov. 23.
Kim will take office on Dec. 1, serving a one-year term.