Charged with trespassing after late-night campus intrusion

Fine of 500,000 won upheld after neither side appeals

Court finds no evidence of criminal intent beyond entry

The main building of Dongduk Women's University in Seoul, where protests against a planned coeducation transition took place in November 2024. [Newsis]
The main building of Dongduk Women's University in Seoul, where protests against a planned coeducation transition took place in November 2024. [Newsis]

A man in his 20s who broke into Dongduk Women's University at night, saying he wanted to see the protest scene against the school's planned coeducation transition, has been fined 500,000 won ($374).

According to legal sources, Judge Kim Cheon-su of the Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 8 sentenced the man, identified only as A, to the fine on Oct. 14 on charges of trespassing.

A entered the campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, through the back gate around 9 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2024, making his way to a statue in front of the main building despite barriers restricting outside access. A filmed video inside the campus. The investigation found A had acted out of a desire to see the protest scene and assess the extent of damage to a statue of the university's founder.

The trespassing charge applies when a person enters a building or structure against the wishes of its manager. A acknowledged the charges during the trial, and the court found A guilty.

"It cannot be denied that the trespassing charge is established, as the university had posted notices prohibiting outside entry and was controlling access through physical and human security measures including closed-circuit television cameras and security guards," the court said.

The court imposed a fine.

"There are no circumstances suggesting A had any other criminal purpose," the court said, adding that A had entered only the grounds surrounding the building and there was no indication of entry into any of the buildings on campus.

The court also noted that most universities do not entirely prohibit outside visitors from entering their surrounding grounds, and that the method of entry — simply walking through the back gate — made it difficult to view the offense as seriously unlawful.

The court said it was appropriate to impose a lower fine than in other cases where a separate criminal purpose had been established or suspected. It added that the sentence took into account that A had no prior criminal record, had admitted to the offense, and other sentencing factors.

The ruling has since been finalized. Neither prosecutors nor A filed an appeal against the first-instance verdict.

Meanwhile, Dongduk Women's University was roiled by protests against its planned coeducation transition in November 2024, with students occupying the main building and spray-painting the campus as tensions escalated. The university subsequently ran a public deliberation committee involving faculty, staff, students and alumni. After deliberations that included an overnight discussion session, the school ultimately decided to transition to coeducation starting in 2029.


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