Konkuk University Decides First Tuition Refund... Via Second Semester Tuition Reduction Method

On the 19th of last month, officials from Corona University Student 119 and the Youth People's Party are protesting at the press conference announcing the Online Action for Tuition Refund in front of the Government Seoul Office Building. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Min Jun-young, Intern Reporter] Amid growing student backlash over the infringement of their right to learn due to remote classes throughout the first semester caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Konkuk University has decided to refund a portion of the first semester tuition fees.

According to Konkuk University on the 15th, the school and the student council have held eight sessions of the Tuition Review Subcommittee (Deungsimwi) since April this year to discuss this plan and will finalize the refund amount within this week.

The tuition refund will be implemented by partially reducing the second semester tuition bills for 15,000 enrolled students (based on undergraduate students at the Seoul campus) from the first semester of this year.

Previously, some universities in Daegu provided special scholarships of 100,000 to 200,000 KRW to enrolled students using school funds.

However, Konkuk University is the first to decide on a tuition reduction as compensation for the infringement of learning rights.

Earlier, when the normal academic schedule became impossible due to the spread of COVID-19, the Konkuk University student council requested the school in April to review a partial tuition refund.

The university administration stated that it was difficult to refund the already decided 2020 tuition fees in cash or other forms due to regulations.

However, after reviewing the results of a survey on partial tuition refunds due to infringement of learning rights, which involved about 4,000 enrolled students, the administration promised to "offer a monetary compensation plan equivalent to a refund."

After discussions, the university administration and the student council agreed on a plan for a "refund-type tuition reduction scholarship," where the school will reduce a certain amount when first semester students register for the next semester.

The exact refund amount has not yet been finalized.

Konkuk University's decision is expected to influence other universities facing student demands for tuition refunds.

As the first semester ends, there are increasing claims in universities that tuition should be partially refunded since the quality of classes declined and university facilities could not be used.

The "Tuition Refund Movement Headquarters," led by the National University Student Council Network, has initiated tuition refund lawsuits against various universities and the Ministry of Education since mid-last month and is recruiting participants among university students.

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