Seoul City University Faces Controversy Over Forcing In-Person Classes in Second Semester

Student Council Opposition Demands Reconsideration

The student councils of three universities located in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kyung Hee University, University of Seoul) are shouting slogans at a joint press conference held on the afternoon of April 23 at Cheongnyangni Station Plaza in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, to urge the establishment of countermeasures for COVID-19 in university areas.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] While most universities are starting their second semester academic schedules with online classes, Seoul City University is reportedly pushing ahead with face-to-face classes, prompting opposition from the university's student council.

On the 27th, the Seoul City University Student Council plans to send an official letter to the school requesting a reconsideration. On the 26th, the student council asked the Seoul City University Academic Committee to switch all classes next month to online, but the school reportedly responded that "changing the university's principle, which has already been notified to the campus community, arbitrarily could cause greater confusion," and stated its intention to stick to the originally scheduled academic calendar.

According to Seoul City University's COVID-19 policy, if social distancing level 2 is implemented, all large (81 or more students) and medium (21 to 80 students) lectures will be switched to online classes. Only some small (20 or fewer students) classes are allowed to be held face-to-face. However, as small group infections continue to occur, students' concerns are growing. On the 24th, a staff member at Seoul City University tested positive, leading to the closure of some buildings.

Most universities in the Seoul metropolitan area are switching face-to-face classes to online. Yonsei University announced that until the end of October, when midterms finish, all classes including experiments, practicals, and skill-based courses will be replaced with online lectures. Seoul National University allowed some theory lectures and all skill-based classes to be held face-to-face in the first semester, but plans to conduct only some experiment and practical classes face-to-face in the second semester. Chung-Ang University, Sogang University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and others will conduct fully online lectures throughout September and monitor the situation.

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