A peek into sit-in protest at SNU

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Thu, November 30, 2023 | 04:14

A peek into sit-in protest at SNU

Posted : 2011-06-09 18:20

Updated : 2011-06-09 18:20

Some students study in preparation for final exams Tuesday in the main administration building of Seoul National University, which they have occupied in protest of the government’s plan to incorporate the school. Despite occasional standoffs with school officials, the students have maintained a relatively peaceful protest inside the building, saying they will continue their occupation until their demands are met. / Korea Times

By Park Sung-hee

“Please come out Mr. President! Students are the center of the school. Please listen to our voices at least once. We don’t bite,” reads one of the hand-written posters decorating the wall of the Seoul National University (SNU) main building on Tuesday evening.

Students have holed themselves up in the five-story administration building in protest of the government-led plan to incorporate the prestigious school since May 30.

Though their occupation of the whole building stirred up some anxiety in Korea, especially in the minds of parents, the students were leading an organized demonstration quite different from militant ones in the past.

While being persistent in pursuing their beliefs, they were taking a somewhat leisurely posture _ some studying on the floor in preparation for final exams and others sharing snacks.

The building houses administration offices, including that of school President Oh Yeon-cheon on the fourth floor, school clubs, a pressroom, a food court, and study room.

The second floor, occupied by the various school clubs, is particularly lively. In a corner, one student strums his guitar while other students, welcoming the music, form a circle around him to sing along.

“I think we’ve created our own cultural space, right in the middle of our school,” said Kim Ji-sup, 22, majoring in German Language and Literature. “We’re living and breathing culture, a culture that we ourselves have created.”

On the way up to the third floor, there is a group of people passing out doughnuts and milk to hungry students, usually the ones who are planning to pull an all-nighter.

Many students are studying against all odds.

“We do have a shortage of desks and tables which makes it challenging to study at times,” said Son Kyung-hwa, 22, majoring in fine arts. “But we bring supplies when we can, and our fellow students from the School of Architecture even made some of our desks.”

Regardless of the dearth of study space, half of the third and fourth floors have a section full of students who sit hovering over class material.

“It’s difficult compared to the comforts of your home,” said Cho Sung-hwa, 21, majoring in biological engineering. “But in terms of efficiency, you don’t waste time. I think I’ve actually gotten more done here than I normally would have if I were at home.”

But these discomforts are miniscule compared to the drive these students have to open up communication with the school’s administration.

“I’d like to stress that the opposition to privatizing our school does not merely lie in the fact that there is a potential for a rise in our tuition,” said Roh Pur-eun, 25, a law major. “Most of the students here are angry about the lack of communication among the student body, school administration, and government on a law that will greatly impact the day-to-day lives of students.”

Students say they want the government and school management to be more sincere in resolving the impasse in communication.

“Not just a statement on what will happen,” said Koo Beom-mo, 20, undecided on humanities, “But two-way communication in which we have some say in what happens to us. We just hope that the administration and President Oh will listen to the students’ voices.”

shpark@koreatimes.co.kr