By Na Jeong-ju
Some 100 students of Dongguk University have been occupying the office of the school’s President Kim Hee-ok since Monday afternoon in protest of his plan to restructure some departments, officials said Tuesday.
The students’ group broke into Kim’s office following a two-hour brawl with security guards and school officials.
During the scuffle, two students sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
The students said they won’t leave the office unless the school drops its plan to close nine departments or combine them with others from 2013.
The departments mostly deal with studies on North Korea, ethics, culture and literature.
Earlier on Monday, the students’ group issued a statement, saying the school is attempting to get rid of departments of which graduates’ employment rates are low.
Professors at Dongguk are also divided over the restructuring plan.
“We oppose the scheme because it reflected only employment rates and cost-effectiveness without considering the students’ rights to learn and academic obligations,” the statement said.
The students said they will hold protests until their demands are met.