Student protesters' messages, including "Expel sexual offenders," spray-painted near the 50th Anniversary Memorial Hall at Seoul Women's University, Sunday. Yonhap

Students at Seoul Women's University staged protests by spray-painting messages on campus buildings, criticizing the university's official response to a professor accused of sexual harassment.

The university announced plans to seek damages for the property damage caused during the demonstrations.

Photos shared on Monday in online communities showed red spray-painted phrases like "Expel sexual offender" and "This is not a hostess bar" on the exterior walls and floors of campus buildings. Banners with messages such as "Listen to the students' anger" and "Protect the students of Seoul Women's University" were also hung around campus.

The protests stemmed from dissatisfaction with the university's response to a sexual misconduct case. In July 2022, a professor from the humanities department was accused of sexually harassing and assaulting students. Following an investigation, the professor was disciplined with a three-month pay reduction in September, a measure students criticized as being "too lenient."

Students demanded stronger protective measures for victims and the removal of the accused from campus. Tensions escalated when the accused professor filed a defamation lawsuit against the students who had publicly criticized him, prompting the spray-paint protests.

Student protesters' messages spray-painted around buildings at Seoul Women's University in Nowon District, Sunday. Yonhap

The university issued a warning on Thursday, stating, "If further damage to university property incurs costs, those responsible will face personal and material liability, including compensation claims."

During the university's entrance essay exams on Saturday, visiting prospective students and their families encountered the signs related to the ongoing dispute. In a statement posted at the exam site, university President Seung Hyun-woo apologized, saying, "We deeply regret being unable to welcome you with a clean and beautiful campus."

The statement also addressed the protests, explaining that the university is in dialogue with students regarding their demands for stricter disciplinary action against the professor. The administration noted it has refrained from removing the protest materials to respect the students' voices.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.