Suwon University Loses Third Tuition Refund Lawsuit... "Partial Refund Required"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The court ruled that Suwon University must refund part of the tuition fees, stating that the university had previously provided students with poor educational environments.

According to the legal community on the 10th, the Seoul High Court Civil Division 35-3 (Presiding Judges Park Hye-sun, Lim Young-woo, Chae Dong-soo) ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, over 500 people including Kang, in the appeal trial of the tuition refund lawsuit filed against the school corporation, chairman of the board, and president during their time at Suwon University, just as in the first trial.

In 2018, they filed a lawsuit demanding a refund of tuition fees, claiming that "the school had an obligation to provide proper education to students but failed to fulfill this duty due to improper diversion of school funds and other reasons, causing mental distress due to poor educational environments."

This is not the first tuition refund lawsuit against Suwon University. About 50 students who attended Suwon University from 2010 to 2013 filed the first lawsuit in 2013, and the Supreme Court confirmed a partial victory, resulting in refunds of 300,000 to 900,000 KRW per person. In the second lawsuit in 2017, the court also recognized the school's responsibility.

Between 2011 and 2012, Suwon University’s full-time faculty ratio fell below the university evaluation standards, and expenses for laboratory practice and student support relative to tuition were significantly lower than the average for comprehensive universities, leading to its provisional designation as a government financial support-restricted university.

At that time, Suwon University had secured about 400 billion KRW in reserves and carryover funds, ranking fourth among private universities nationwide. However, the full-time faculty ratio was below the university evaluation standards, and laboratory practice and student support expenses relative to tuition were only 41% and 9%, respectively, of the average for metropolitan comprehensive universities.

The first trial court in the third lawsuit also stated, "The defendants violated the Private School Act by improperly accumulating and managing reserves and carryover funds, resulting in students receiving laboratory and practical training far below what their tuition fees should have provided," ordering Suwon University to pay 300,000 to 900,000 KRW per plaintiff. Suwon University appealed, but the second trial court upheld the same judgment.

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