"'Comfort Women Are Prostitutes' Ryu Seok-chun Assigned 1st Semester Lecture... Yonsei University Says 'Lecture Not Confirmed'"

Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University's Department of Sociology, who caused controversy by stating that Japanese military 'comfort women' were a form of prostitution, is heading to the classroom for the scheduled liberal arts class "The Founding and Development of the Republic of Korea" on the afternoon of September 26 last year at Baekyang Hall, Yonsei University Sinchon Campus, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University's Department of Sociology, who compared Japanese military comfort women to prostitution during a lecture and made sexually harassing remarks to a student who raised concerns about the statement, has been assigned classes for the first semester of this year, prompting student backlash.

The university stated that the course offering has not been finalized and that the decision will depend on the disciplinary outcome.

The 'Student Countermeasure Committee for the Ryu Seok-chun Professor Incident' at Yonsei University held a rally on the 13th in front of the student union building on Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, demanding Professor Ryu's dismissal.

At the rally, the committee asserted, "Dismiss Ryu Seok-chun, a perpetrator of sexual violence, to protect students' right to education."

Kim Eun-gyeol, co-chair of the student committee, said, "It has been about four months since the incident occurred on September 19, 2019. Students hurt by Professor Ryu have continuously demanded an apology and dismissal, but the university still says it is 'resolving the matter according to procedure' without providing concrete answers," adding, "We demand a meeting with the president for safe classrooms and the full educational rights students deserve."

A Yonsei University public relations official told Asia Economy on the 14th, "At this point, faculty members who maintain their status must submit the names of courses they plan to offer next semester. The courses currently posted on the portal system are simply compiled from submissions by professors."

He continued, "Whether the courses are actually offered depends on faculty circumstances and the number of enrolled students. In the case of this professor, the offering will be decided based on the disciplinary outcome," explaining, "If a disciplinary decision prohibits teaching after March, the course will be discontinued and the instructor replaced."

Regarding the disciplinary procedure and duration, he responded, "The time required varies for each case, so it is uncertain."

Students from the Student Countermeasures Committee against Professor Ryu Seok-chun of the Department of Sociology at Yonsei University are holding a "Relay Speech and Rally Condemning Professor Ryu Seok-chun" in front of the Student Union Building at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ethics and Human Rights Committee stated, "All related procedures are conducted confidentially, so we cannot disclose information."

Earlier, in September last year during a class, Professor Ryu caused controversy by stating, "The direct perpetrator against comfort women is not Japan. (Comfort women) are a form of prostitution."

It was also reported that Professor Ryu made sexually harassing remarks to a female student who raised concerns about the statement, saying, "If you're curious, try it once."

According to multiple media outlets, Yonsei University's Ethics and Human Rights Committee recently concluded after its first meeting that Professor Ryu should be disciplined.

Professor Ryu submitted a request for reconsideration regarding the decision, and accordingly, the Ethics and Human Rights Committee plans to hold a second meeting. Following the university's disciplinary procedures, the results of the second meeting will be reviewed by the Personnel Committee and finalized by the Disciplinary Committee.

Meanwhile, Professor Ryu is scheduled to retire at the end of the first semester this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.