Went to Watch a Dongduk Women's University Protest, Ended Up in Court... Why the Two Men Got Different Verdicts

Suspected of illegally filming students, man taken to police station
Before official access restrictions began: "No criminal intent"
YouTuber who filmed on campus two days later fined

Two men who entered the site of protests against Dongduk Women's University's transition to coeducation and were charged with trespassing were found not guilty and fined, respectively. They entered the campus through the same rear gate just two days apart, but the court reached different verdicts because the first man entered before access controls for outsiders were imposed, while the YouTuber entered afterward.

Graduates move across campus after attending the commencement ceremony held on February 21 last year at Dongduk Women's University, where protests against the transition to coeducation took place in November 2024. Yonhap News Agency

According to legal sources on October 31, Judge Jang Wonjeong of the Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 13 found Mr. Ko, 32, not guilty on October 19 of trespassing into a building.

Mr. Ko was indicted on charges of entering the outdoor bleachers beside the main building on the campus of Dongduk Women's University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, through the university's rear gate at around 3 p.m. on November 12, 2024. At the time, students were protesting the university's transition to coeducation. Mr. Ko, who had come to watch the protest, was surrounded by students who suspected him of illegally filming them with his cellphone. Police who arrived at the scene took him into custody after the students encircled him.

The key issue at trial was whether Mr. Ko had entered the campus in violation of the university's access restrictions. The court noted that Dongduk Women's University was allowing members of the public onto its campus at the time of the incident.

The university had restricted public access to its campus after the so-called “naked man incident” in 2018. However, at the request of the local community and nearby residents, it opened campus areas outside its buildings in November 2023.

The situation changed after protests against the transition to coeducation began on November 11, 2024. As outside visitors, including reporters, began entering the campus more frequently and complaints from students continued, the university announced on November 13 that it would “restrict access by outsiders starting on the 14th.”

However, Mr. Ko entered the campus on the 12th, before the access restrictions took effect. The court ruled that his actions could not be considered trespassing, since the university had not officially restricted public access at the time.

“The defendant came onto the campus only to watch the students' protest. He does not appear to have entered to illegally film them or to commit any other crime, and no photographs of students were found on his cellphone,” Judge Jang said.

“The defendant was surrounded by students who mistakenly thought he was filming them with his cellphone. He was taken into custody by police only because the students gathered around him, creating a situation that could have posed an additional risk,” the judge continued. “The evidence submitted by the prosecution alone is insufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”

By contrast, a 31-year-old YouTuber, Mr. Kim, who entered the campus through the same rear gate at around 9 p.m. on November 14, two days later, was found guilty at trial. Unlike Mr. Ko, Mr. Kim entered the university after restrictions on access by outsiders had already taken effect.

Mr. Kim was indicted on charges of entering the campus as far as the statue in front of the main building to inspect the protest site and the damage to a statue of the university's founder, and to film them.

On October 14, Judge Kim Cheonsu of the Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 8 fined Mr. Kim 500,000 won on charges of trespassing into a building. At the time, the university had implemented effective access-control measures, including installing barricades and requiring visitors to obtain passes at the main gate before entering the campus.

Judge Kim ruled that Mr. Kim's actions constituted trespassing, as the university had posted signs prohibiting outsiders from entering and was controlling access through CCTV cameras and security guards.

However, the judge said, “Most universities generally do not completely ban outsiders from entering, and the defendant merely entered through a rear gate. In light of these circumstances, it is difficult to view his trespassing onto the campus as highly unlawful.”

The judge added that “a lower fine than those imposed in other cases where an intent to commit another crime was established or there were circumstances indicating such intent is appropriate,” explaining the reasons for the sentence.

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