Protests roil women's university over plan to admit men

Spray paint and protest banners cover the walls and pavements of Dongduk women's university in Seoul. "We'd rather perish than open our doors," reads one slogan. Since 11 November, students have staged a sit-in, initially occupying the main building and blocking access to classroom buildings across campus, forcing classes to move online.

- Raphael Rashid

The outcry was sparked by plans for some departments to admit male students but have since spiralled into a wider clash over the future of womenonly spaces in a country that is grappling with the issue of gender equality.

"The university's unilateral decision, made without any input from the students who actually study and live here, left us with no choice but to raise our voices," one member of Dongduk's student council said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In South Korea, women's universities were established in the early 20th century as one of the only paths to higher education for women in a strictly patriarchal society.

Today, they are seen by some as vital institutions for nurturing female talent in a country that remains deeply male-dominated. South Korea ranks 94th out of 146 countries in gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum. Women hold just 20% of parliamentary seats and make up only 7.3% of executives in the country's 500 largest companies.