Members of the National University Student Council Network hold a news conference in downtown Seoul on April 21, 2020, to demand a tuition refund for the spring semester. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 15 (Korea Bizwire) — As criticism against the poor quality of college education ensues in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, students are taking legal action, demanding that their tuition be refunded.
The National University Student Council Network and Movement for Tuition Refund, composed of student councils from over 30 universities nationwide, held a press conference in front of the government office complex in Seoul on Thursday, announcing plans to begin signing petitions to amend tuition-related legislation.
“As COVID-19 rages on for four months, the education rights of 3 million college students across the country are not being ensured as much as the amount of tuition paid,” they said.
Last month, the network conducted a survey of 21,784 students currently enrolled at 203 universities across the country, 99.2 percent of whom demanded refunds for the spring semester.
“During this COVID-19 situation, college students across the globe are taking action for their right to education. In the United States, students from more than 50 universities filed lawsuits and began online petitions to take back tuition,” they said.
Many South Koreans support the student movement.
A Realmeter survey of 500 male and female citizens over 18 years of age showed that 75.1 percent agreed that a tuition refund should be in order.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
