The police have handed over current students who are suspected of occupying the campus and staging a protest against the discussion of converting to coeducation at Dongduk Women's University last year to the prosecution.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Unit recently announced that it has transferred 22 individuals, including current students of Dongduk Women's University, to the prosecution without detention on charges of obstruction of business, failure to comply with evacuation orders, and property damage.
They are accused of occupying the main building for 24 days and vandalizing campus facilities while claiming that the school was preparing for the transition to coeducation without sufficient discussion in November last year. Some are also accused of attempting to enter the third floor of the main building using a ladder on Dec. 5.
The police have received a total of 75 complaints linked to the occupation protest and have booked 38 individuals. However, 16 of these cases were not pursued due to insufficient evidence.
The Dongduk Women's University administration estimated that the damage caused by the protestors' occupation amounts to 5.4 billion won and filed a formal complaint against 21 individuals, including the student council president, in the name of the president. In response to student backlash and persuasion from political circles, they submitted a letter of withdrawal regarding criminal complaints and a request for leniency to the police on the 15th of last month.
However, since the charges of property damage and obstruction of business do not qualify as non-prosecution offenses—meaning they cannot be criminally punished if the victim does not want punishment—the police have continued their investigation.
Meanwhile, the police reported that allegations suggesting involvement from outsiders, who are not members of Dongduk Women's University in this incident, have been identified as unfounded.