Sungshin students protest school's co-ed plan

The main building of Sungshin Women's University. / Yonhap

By Kim Hyun-bin

Sungshin Women’s University students are protesting the school’s possible plan to go co-ed.

In a recent media interview Kim Ho-sung, the university president, said he will soon initiate the discussion over whether the school will become a co-educational institution.

He said the future for the women’s university was not promising as the school could only admit women, which is just half the country’s student population. Also women have a disadvantage in landing jobs, so the school’s employment rate stays relatively low, Kim said.

Kim was appointed as the school’s 10th president in October, succeeding Shim Hwa-jin who was found guilty of embezzlement last February.

The students felt betrayed, as the school board made no effort to reflect students’ opinions in the potential change.

“The school did not ask our views, and the school president made the announcement through an interview to draw public opinion,” a Sungshin student surnamed Kang said. “My colleagues and I am outraged.”

“The president made a brief statement during his New Year address on the school’s homepage,” another student surnamed Cho said. “Students requested feedback on his statement, but he stayed silent, and a few days later he makes this announcement through the press. The school does not care about students’ opinions whatsoever.”

Scores of students were also critical of the possible switch to a co-ed university.

“Competition between female students to receive high grades and enhancing our resumes is fierce,” said Park, a sophomore at Sungshin. “That aspect drives us to study harder and is one of the reasons why we enrolled in this school. I am against our school going co-ed.”

“Why does a women’s university have to become co-ed? The people who favor the change should first look up the true meaning behind the establishment of Sungshin Women’s University,” sophomore Lee said. “Unlike co-ed institutions, in a women’s university we do not have to worry about hidden cameras and sexual harassment. We could also establish an all-women student body without constraint.”

Sungshin Women’s University’s foundation philosophy is driven by fostering earnest and trustworthy female leaders that contribute to society.

“Nothing has been set; we plan to continue seeking public opinion on the matter. If the students continue to strongly oppose and if the school board finds it reasonable, we might not discuss the matter further,” a university official said. ”We plan to consider all our options.”