Five Sungshin University Students Indicted Over Spray-Paint Protest

Five students from Sungshin Women's University have been indicted on charges of joint property damage for spray-painting campus facilities in protest against the admission of male foreign students. The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office indicted the five students without detention on May 19, according to legal circles on the 21st.

An additional five students who were also referred to the prosecution received suspended sentences. This decision was influenced by the university's expressed desire not to pursue punishment for these students, considering factors such as their circumstances. The students are accused of spray-painting university facilities at the Donam Gungjeon Campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in November 2024. Their protest was specifically against the university's decision to allow male foreign students into its international studies program.

The police investigation began in April of the previous year after the university filed a complaint regarding property damage. In January, the police escalated their investigation by executing search and seizure warrants at the students' residences and other locations.

The incident highlights tensions surrounding gender and admissions policies at educational institutions. While the indicted students face legal proceedings, the suspended sentences for the other five suggest a degree of leniency, possibly reflecting a desire to resolve the matter without further disruption to the students' academic careers or the university's operations.