Five Sungshin Women’s University Students Stand Trial for Spray-Paint Protest

Indictment Suspended for Five Students After Review by Prosecutors’ Civil Committee

Students who staged a spray-paint protest against the admission policy for male students at Sungshin Women’s University have been put on trial.

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office announced on July 21 that five current students of Sungshin Women’s University were indicted without detention on charges of joint property damage.

Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office building. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the prosecution, these students were put on trial on charges of spray-painting various facilities inside Sungshin Women’s University’s Donam-Sujeong campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in protest against the university’s policy announced in November 2024 to allow male applicants to the International Studies Department.

In April last year, the university filed a police complaint against 13 students on charges including property damage. The police conducted a search and seizure of the students’ residences in January of this year, and then referred ten of the students to the prosecution on charges of joint property damage and other offenses. A prosecution official explained, "Regarding the other five students who were also referred, we decided to grant a suspension of indictment after considering that they have shown remorse and the university has expressed that it does not wish to pursue punishment, following a resolution by the Prosecutors’ Civil Committee."

Previously, the university had provided the students with an opportunity to explain their actions, and subsequently submitted a non-punishment request for some of them. In addition, three students found to have deliberately damaged campus facilities received disciplinary action, including more than 14 days of suspension.

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