42 Universities Nationwide, 3,500 Students File Class Action Lawsuit for Tuition Refunds

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] As online lectures have been conducted in universities due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), university students nationwide have launched a class-action lawsuit demanding tuition refunds.

The 'Tuition Refund Movement Headquarters,' formed mainly by the National University Student Network, held a press conference on the 1st at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, stating, "Over the past five months, university students have found no willingness from educational authorities to discuss tuition refunds," and urged, "The defendant universities in the tuition refund lawsuit and the Republic of Korea must respond responsibly to the students' demand for 'tuition refunds for the first semester.'"

They demanded that the Ministry of Education and universities refund 1 million KRW per student for private university students and 500,000 KRW per student for national and public university students. About 3,500 university students from 42 universities nationwide, recruited online by the Movement Headquarters from May to June, are participating in this class-action lawsuit.

The Movement Headquarters stated, "Although the National Assembly's Education Committee passed a supplementary budget of 271.8 billion KRW on the 29th of last month as a tuition refund measure, the amount was calculated assuming a refund of about 10%, approximately 400,000 KRW per school," and added, "We cannot help but question whether the current discussions in the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly truly reflect the sentiments of university students."

They also emphasized, "Considering the universities' and Ministry of Education's consistent lack of communication, it is uncertain whether even 10% of the amount will be refunded to the students."

According to a survey conducted by the Movement Headquarters from the 24th to the 28th of last month targeting 11,105 students from 198 universities nationwide, respondents believe that an average of 59% of the first semester tuition should be refunded.

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