"Go to the Rally Instead of the Final Exam"… National University Professor's Notice Sparks Attention

Busan National University Professor: "In This Situation, Study; We Cannot Hold You Back"
Final Exam Replaced with Political Field Experience Assignment

As rallies condemning the 'December 3 Martial Law Incident' continue nationwide, it has become a hot topic that a professor at a national university gave assignments instead of a final exam, urging students to directly experience the political administration field.

Amid a series of rallies condemning the December 3 martial law, a professor at a national university gained students' support by assigning a project instead of a final exam, urging them to directly experience the political and administrative field. The photo shows citizens in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 7th, urging People Power Party lawmakers to participate in the impeachment vote. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

According to Pusan National University on the 11th, Professor Park Hee-jung of the Department of Public Administration posted a notice about the second semester Personnel Administration final exam on the department app the day before. Professor Park opened with "To all students," writing, "I cannot hold you back to study for exams during a time when political administration is rapidly changing in the field."

He stated, "In the spirit of having you directly experience the vivid political administration field, the exam on December 17 will be replaced with the attached assignment," and added, "Please write your answers and submit them to the Public Administration Department office by December 20." It is known that Professor Park shared a 9-page, 50-question final exam in the attached file and instructed students to submit it to the department office.

Notice regarding the second semester final exam for Public Personnel Administration posted by a professor at a national university in Korea. JTBC

As the notice spread, netizens showed a strong reaction. Comments included "The professor is awesome," "Pride of Pusan National University’s Public Administration Department," "Famous for great classes," "No way to focus on books in this situation," "What about our professor?" and "A true mentor." However, some critical responses also appeared, such as "What about students who prepared for the exam?" "Even in this situation, we have to do what we must," and "Is it okay for a professor to bring politics into class?"

Meanwhile, recently, a reply from a university professor to a student’s email asking for understanding due to absence from class to attend a rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol has also attracted attention. On the 10th, on the university student community Everytime and X (formerly Twitter), an email from a philosophy professor at a university in Seoul encouraging a student attending the rally instead of attending class with "Be brave and move forward" has been widely shared. In the revealed photo, Professor A, who wrote the email, opened by saying, "The purpose of higher education is to produce intellectuals," and "Intellectuals who fulfill their responsibility to society." He added, "There is no need to fear injustice. I hope you will be courageous and move forward," gaining support from netizens.

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