The main building of Dongduk Women's University is covered with handwritten posters and graffiti in protest of the school's possible transition to a coeducation institution, Nov. 14. Yonhap

The protests by students against Dongduk Women's University's possible transition to a co-educational institution have escalated into a wider gender conflict, spilling beyond the campus. According to students and officials on Monday, the protests have sparked an anti-feminist backlash.

On Nov. 4, it was made public that Dongduk Women's University was discussing whether to admit male students, and in response students have been staging intense protests since Nov. 11, occupying the main building and boycotting classes altogether.

Man on Solidarity, a men's rights activist organization that is known to be anti-feminist, reported to police that it would hold a rally in front of Dongduk Women's University for a month from Nov. 16.

The group has been criticized for targeting and harassing female activists. Its YouTube channel garnered over 150,000 subscribers within two months since launching in June 2021 and has over 543,000 followers as of Monday.

Bae In-gyu, head of the group, referred to the students of Dongduk Women's University as rioters on his YouTube channel and said, "After the rally, I will identify the rioters and file a complaint with the police."

A post threatening a deadly attack on Dongduk Women's University was also posted on social media on Nov. 12, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

In addition, the Jongam Police Station in Seoul is investigating two men in their 20s for allegedly sneaking into the university campus on Nov. 16. They reportedly said they were “curious about the situation at Dongduk Women's University."

On Nov. 14, a man in his 20s was arrested after trespassing on campus in the middle of the night and scuffling with security guards.

Dongduk Women's University students hold a demonstration at their campus in Seoul, Nov. 14, in protest of the university's possible transition to becoming a coeducational institution. Yonhap

In addition, Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative Reform Party criticized the protest, calling it an "illegitimate protest."

Calling the protest uncivilized, the lawmaker said, Nov. 14, "Just as the act of trying to fulfill one's will by holding the common people on Line 4 hostage is non-civilization, an act that threatens the right to study and safety of other students occurred in the violence at Dongduk Women's University." With this statement, Lee tried to draw a comparison between the protests for mobility rights by a disability advocacy group and the recent actions of the university's student protesters.

Rep. Lee also claimed that the student protests stemmed from radical feminism.

"Feminism should talk about inclusion and coexistence, but South Korea's radical feminism, which uses isolation and exclusion as weapons, has already reached the end of the offensive (when the military is no longer capable of carrying out operations due to exhaustion of power)," he said.

The school announced on Nov. 15 that the damage caused by the protest is estimated to be between 2.44 billion won ($1.74 million) and 5.44 billion won.

"The school feels sorry for the students who are affected by this situation," the announcement read.

"The university authorities are doing their utmost to restore order within the school and protect the right to learn, but a lot of damage is occurring … If you need personal protection or if there is a situation where your right to learn is violated, please report it to the school."

In response, the student council of Dongduk Women's University, which led the sit-in, also expressed its position.

"On the afternoon of Nov. 14, the student council received a document from the university claiming 330 million won in damages," the statement read.

"The university should immediately stop intimidating students by citing financial problems for which students are bound to be vulnerable."