In South Korea, women's university protests spark anti-feminist backlash

Anger is growing in many of Korea's women's universities. Since early November, students have been protesting against the universities' intention to convert to co-education. But their protests have been met with widespread backlash, both online and in real-life.

“We’d rather perish than open our doors”: protest signs at the entrance to the university reflect the clear intentions of students as unrest sweeps the campus. Statues of founders have been egged, walls are covered with graffiti and students stage sit-ins in defiance of university administrations.

Of the seven universities reserved for women in South Korea, five have been at the centre of escalating protests for the past month. But they have been met with a wave of anti-feminist backlash.

The uproar started on November 7 at Dongduk Women’s University (DDWU), after the student council revealed that the administration had discreetly admitted male first-year students for the start of the 2025 academic year. Protests started on November 11, as students demanded answers and accountability, and are ongoing.

Women’s universities in South Korea trace their roots back to the 19th century when they were founded by missionaries to offer education to women who had long been excluded from formal learning in a deeply patriarchal society. Inequalities between men and women are still glaring today: since 2016, Korea has consistently ranked last among OECD countries on the Glass Ceiling Index.

On TikTok, many users have expressed solidarity with the protests, sharing posts and hashtags in support of the movement.

For Choi, this confirms the importance of women’s universities.