In June 2024, the student council of Kyonggi University gathered in front of the Ministry of Education at the Sejong Government Complex and held a protest for the normalization of the school. Currently, Kyonggi University is operated under a temporary director system. Students cited several problems, including a passive attitude toward school operation, financial instability, and unclear school operation. Accordingly, the student council conducted various activities, such as submitting a complaint to the Ministry of Education, posting a banner, sending emails, and holding a silent protest. However, the Ministry of Education did not respond. Pharos would like to find out what the student council and regular students think about the normalization of the school administration.

 On June 7, at 11 AM, a demonstration was held to urge the normalization of the Kyonggi University corporation. The president of Kyonggi University’s 37th Student Council, Yoon Dae-yong(Sport & Leisure Industry, 2019) explained the reason why they held this demonstration: “There was no response to the opinion delivered during the silent protest on June 5, and this is an act of ignoring 13,000 students at Kyonggi University.” He went on to say, “On May 11, the Kyonggi University Student Council and Kyonggi University Central Steering Committee wrote and posted a joint statement, but the school headquarters and the school corporation didn’t show any step toward normalization. Then we recognized that a new temporary director was appointed on April 11.” At the same time, he said “In May, on the day of the corporate board meeting, student representatives held a silent protest with pickets, and the president of the student council submitted a student opinion to the chairman and asked for an answer by the 12th, but the minutes of the board meeting confirmed that no discussion on the issue took place. Such a move of the school corporation cannot be accepted, and that’s why we held a protest for the normalization of the school at the Ministry of Education at the Sejong Government Complex.” So what do Kyonggi University students think about the demonstration that was held to urge the normalization of the Kyonggi University corporation? Pharos interviewed two Kyonggi University students and asked about the normalization of the Kyonggi University corporation.

 1. Do you know why Kyonggi University’s administration must be normalized?

Kim, Industrial and Management Engineering ’19: Actually, I haven't thought deeply about the normalization of the corporation because I assumed it to be reasonable. But I hope that the normalization will be implemented because of the insecurity caused by the temporary board of directors without even thinking about the management rights of the school.

Shin, Food Science & Biotechnology ’21: Yes, I know. If the school corporation is not normalized, it will adversely affect the development of the school due to a lack of initiative in student-level welfare and school-level projects, which is the biggest reason why corporate normalization should be implemented.

 2. Did you know that the student council held a demonstration to normalize the corporation of Kyonggi University? What do you think about this?

Kim, Industrial and Management Engineering ’19: I heard the news through SNS. Even if it may not directly lead to changes, I think it is meaningful that it publicizes the issue of corporate normalization and fights loudly for students’ voices.

Shin, Food Science & Biotechnology ’21: I was so impressed that students gathered in front of the Ministry of Education at the Sejong Government Complex and held a protest for the normalization of the school. In addition, I think Kyonggi University's corporate normalization should be implemented quickly.

 Transparent and independent school operations, consistency, and financial stability are basic requirements that are necessary for a better university life and society. We must not forget that just as a country exists because of its people, a school also exists because of its students. For a more developed Kyonggi University in the future, it is necessary to actively listen to the voices of current students and take immediate and practical actions to ensure the stability of Kyonggi University. In addition, not only the student representatives of Kyonggi University but also the regular students need to pay close attention to this current problem. 

78th Reporter • NAM HYE SEUNG • namhyeseung50@gmail.com 

81st Reporter • CHO SE RYOUNG • sceyesgaze@kyonggi.ac.kr