[Special] 2025 DGU Election Hearing – Day3

 On November 20th, 2025, the third session of  public hearing for the Dongguk University student council election was held at Hyehwa Hall. The session began at 6 P.M. and concluded at around 9:10 P.M. After the main hearing, the by-election slates 'Anew', 'Yoonseul', 'Seoro', 'OPEN', and 'Connection' took part in a candidate Q&A session. Each slate is competing in its respective body: 'Anew' for the College of Education Representative Council, 'Yoonseul ' for the College of Education Student Council, 'Seoro 'for the College of Law Student Council, 'OPEN' for the College of Law Representative Council, and 'Connection' for the College of the Arts Student Council.

   The event ran for about three hours and included both initial and follow-up rounds of questioning.

   The Dongguk Post submitted its own set of questions to all five slates, ensuring there was no duplication with other media outlets. This article summarizes the questions directed to the College of Education Representative Council and Student Council, the College of Law Representative Council and Student Council, and the College of the Arts Student Council.

1. The College of Education Representative Council candidate, ‘Anew’

General Questions

Q: What is the core message of your campaign?

A: Our campaign is centered on a single guiding principle: “We will revive the value of representation.” Over the past few years, the College of Education’s representative council has often remained vacant, leaving student voices inadequately reflected. By “revival,” we do not mean simple change, but rather restoring the council’s original function and ensuring that students’ opinions are incorporated through proper and fair procedures, reestablishing a healthy system of representation.

Q: What are your three main pledges?

A: Our three main pledges are as follows. First, we plan to revise the College of Education’s bylaws in accordance with the updated university regulations and rules. Second, we will conduct thorough and careful audits. Third, we aim to maintain smooth communication between representatives and the student body.

Q: How would you evaluate this year’s student community?

A: Overall, I believe this year’s student community was well-managed. Both the student council and the representative council were active, enabling school-wide events and student activities to run smoothly, with the College of Education student council providing strong leadership. We actively participated in and observed most events, including the Freshman Learning Camp, Haeoreum Festival, inter-departmental gatherings, and the Hakrim Sports Festival. Thanks to the student council’s efforts, these events were successfully carried out. There is still one remaining joint event, which I am confident will also conclude successfully.

Questions from The Dongguk Post 

Q: You mentioned a simple participatory event. Could you explain what types of activities you have in mind?

A: Since the start of the semester, we have planned to introduce each department’s representatives through promotional posts and card news explaining their roles. At the end of the materials, we include a short quiz, and winners are selected by random draw to receive prizes. Unlike the student council, the representative council’s main purpose is not to plan events, but to audit and oversee their proper operation. Therefore, we are not planning many events.

Q: Could you clarify what you mean by the systematic and staged structure of election management?

A: Currently, due to the vacancy in the representative council chair, the election management committee chair is selected from among the representatives, and most other representatives do not take part in election-related duties. This year, all candidates ran unopposed, so election management was straightforward. However, in the event of a competitive election, there is currently a lack of institutions to oversee and manage potential issues. Therefore, in next year’s by-election in March and the regular election in November, we plan to assign responsibilities to the representatives to supervise and manage the process. The election management committee will be organized around the representatives, candidate announcements will be posted, voting will be encouraged, and any disciplinary matters will be addressed as needed.

Q: Regarding the formation of regular and special audit committees, who will make up these committees and how will they operate? What alternatives are in place if the special committee cannot be convened?

A: If the representative council is formed, both regular and special audit committees will include all representatives as members. We understand that it may be difficult to align everyone’s schedules, so as a last resort, we are considering using online platforms such as Webex. The focus will not be on formal meetings alone, but on enabling meaningful activities, particularly for urgent or irregular audits, without being constrained by formalities.

Q: If you serve a term without a vice chair, how will roles and responsibilities be distributed, and how will you manage potential burdens?

A: I do not plan to handle everything alone. Tasks and responsibilities will be shared among the representatives, allowing us to solve problems collectively. While some burden is inevitable, I see it as part of serving the College of Education. Any gaps in experience or expertise will be addressed through consultation with experienced representatives from other universities and coordination with the central representative council.

Q: Regarding your pledge to establish a structured election management system, could you elaborate on what “systematic and staged” means and how the election process will be conducted?

A: As mentioned, the current chair vacancy means the election management chair is selected from among the representatives, and most other representatives do not participate in election duties. Since all candidates ran unopposed this year, there were no difficulties. However, in case of a competitive election, there is a perceived lack of oversight. To address this, in next year’s by-election and regular election, responsibilities will be assigned to representatives to supervise the process. The election management committee will be organized around the representatives, candidate announcements will be posted, voting will be encouraged, and disciplinary matters will be addressed in a timely manner to ensure smooth operations.

2. The College of Education Student Council candidate, ‘Yoonseul ’

General Questions

Q: What is the core message of your campaign?

A: The guiding slogan of our campaign team, Yoonseul, is “When our lights meet, they ripple across Hakrim.” Our name, Yoonseul, refers to the shimmering ripples on water when they catch sunlight or moonlight. We hope that the students at the College of Education, each shining in their own way, will come together in solidarity and remember their university years as something beautiful. With this vision, Yoonseul aims to become a student council that truly contributes to your learning and growth.

Q: What are your three main pledges?

A: Our three main pledges are: holding a competency-enhancement roundtable for pre-service teachers, hosting an e-sports edition of the Hakrim Sports Festival, and establishing new student clubs within the College of Education. The roundtable will explore exam preparation strategies aligned with the college curriculum and help strengthen the professional capabilities of future teachers. The e-sports festival will expand participation opportunities and build camaraderie through digital sports. The creation of new student clubs is intended to provide spaces for interaction, connection, and a stronger sense of belonging among students.

Q: How would you evaluate this year’s student community?

A: Before evaluating this year’s student community, we would like to emphasize that 2024 was a year full of diverse and innovative initiatives that reached students across the seven departments of the College of Education. Participation in in-person events increased, and many students showed strong interest in welfare programs such as snack events and local business partnerships. However, participation remained low in events aimed at promoting interaction, between departments, as some students felt hesitant or burdened to sign up. Encouraging greater participation will therefore be an important challenge moving forward. 

Questions from The Dongguk Post 

Q: How do you plan to implement your 1:1 teacher-certification mentoring program? Please explain how many mentors you have secured for each subject and how matching will be handled if mentor numbers fall short, including any criteria based on mentor experience.

A: Our 1:1 teacher-certification mentoring program is designed to support students in the College of Education who plan to take the national teaching exam. Rather than relying on alumni mentors, we plan to bring in instructors from partner teaching-certification institutes with professional experience in their respective subjects. These instructors will cover all seven departments within the College of Education, as well as subjects like General Social Studies and English, which are part of the teacher-training track but outside the college.

The mentoring will be arranged to match student demand as closely as possible. If the number of available instructors does not meet the number of applicants, we are considering dividing the sessions across two days after reviewing registration data. Additional details, such as specific matching criteria and the final assignment of instructors, will be confirmed in consultation with the partnering institute once instructor availability is finalized.

Q: Could you explain what the Vitamin Camp program is, including its purpose and how it operates?

A: Vitamin Camp is a program designed to help pre-service teachers develop their teaching competencies through educational volunteering, while also providing a convenient way for students to complete the 60 hours of volunteer work required for graduation. The Student Council partners with local child community centers in Seoul, where participants teach elementary school students. The program runs for five days, six hours each day. Students prepare separate lessons for lower and upper grade levels and engage in various recreational activities to encourage communication and interaction between university mentors and their child or youth mentees. Because the program connects students to educational volunteer work and offers guidance related to the teaching profession, it is planned and operated as part of our education-related initiatives.

Q: Could you explain what your study-room reservation initiative includes and how it will be operated?

A: Our study room reservation initiative was created to provide students with a place to study overnight during exam periods. In coordination with the Academic Affairs Office, the Student Council secures available classrooms in Hakrim Hall and opens them for student use from 10 P.M. to 9 A.M. the following morning. The system operates similarly to the existing seminar room reservation program: students apply for their preferred date and time through the Student Council KakaoTalk Plus channel, and council members process the requests. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis once the announcement is posted, and additional classrooms will be opened depending on student demand.

Q: Does your career roundtable include graduates working outside the teaching profession as well?

A: Yes. Our career roundtable is an education-related program featuring talks and Q&A sessions with alumni of the College of Education who have pursued careers outside the teaching field. It is designed for students interested in non-teaching career paths and offers guidance on the overall job-search process across various professional sectors, along with practical advice drawn from alumni experience. When preparing the event, the Student Council invites speakers based on students’ interests and the range of fields and roles they hope to explore.

Q: Could you provide a detailed explanation of your “Owl Monitoring” pledge during exam periods? If staff presence is required, how do you plan to organize and operate it?

A: The Owl Monitoring program is a self-managed initiative designed to ensure that students studying overnight during exam periods can do so safely and conveniently. During exams, the College of Education study room on the second floor of Hakrim Hall operates 24 hours, and student council members remain on-site at the council office to oversee its management. The program runs from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m., during which welfare services, such as overnight study kits, are also provided.

If staff presence is needed, shifts will be divided into three blocks: 10 P.M. to 2 A.M., 2 A.M to 6 A.M., and 6 A.M. to 9 A.M., with two to three student council members assigned to each shift. This ensures continuous supervision while keeping the workload manageable for those involved.

3. The College of Law Student Council candidate, ‘Seoro’

General Questions

Q: What is the core message of your campaign?

A: We aim to be a student council that connects and supports the students of the College of Law, a student council that becomes a meaningful presence for everyone. Rather than focusing on visible achievements, we strive to be a council that engages with students naturally in their everyday lives. Following the guiding principle of our campaign team, “Gradually, Together as One,” we hope to move forward in step with the students and community of the College of Law, working together toward a united and vibrant college experience.

Q: What are your three main pledges?

A: Our first major pledge is to establish academic partnerships. Given the focus of the law department, many students are primarily concerned with preparing for law school. However, there have been few opportunities to support these interests in the past. We plan to organize academic conferences that help students prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LEET), providing them with the chance to pursue their goals without financial burden.

The second key pledge is the provision of exam-period kits. Although this initiative was not offered last year, we plan to reintroduce it this year to support students who stay overnight on campus during exams, helping them study more comfortably.

The third pledge focuses on facility maintenance and the operation of a QR reporting system. Previously, there was no direct way for students to report facility issues as they arose. By maintaining the QR system, we will ensure that any problems are promptly reported and communicated to the university, encouraging timely repairs and a safer, better-equipped learning environment.

Q: How would you evaluate this year’s student community?

A: We believe this past year was one in which we made every effort to provide students at the College of Law with a wide range of experiences within a single academic community. In particular, we expanded opportunities for students to engage beyond the College of Law, allowing them to connect and collaborate with peers from other universities, something that had been limited in previous years. Through various initiatives, including form-based projects, academic programs in partnership with external organizations, and departmental outreach, the student council successfully created multiple channels for communication and participation. However, it was somewhat disappointing that student participation in each of these programs remained relatively low.

Questions from The Dongguk Post 

Q: Regarding your QR-based facility repair pledge, how do you plan to coordinate with the university to ensure that reported issues are actually fixed? Also, for your Wi-Fi and facility improvement pledges in the Law Building, which areas will be prioritized, and how feasible are these plans in terms of discussions with the administration?

A: Through the QR system, we aim to collect students’ feedback and submit formal requests to the university on behalf of the College of Law. While it is our responsibility to continuously communicate students’ concerns, it is realistically difficult for the student council to take full responsibility for handling repairs from start to finish. Our top priority is to ensure that every issue reported by students is formally submitted under the College of Law’s name and addressed through close collaboration with the administration. Regarding Wi-Fi and facility improvements, we plan to prioritize areas that most directly impact students’ daily academic activities, and we will continue to work with the university to discuss feasible solutions and implementation timelines.

Q: How do you plan to recruit alumni speakers, and what criteria will you use for selection? Additionally, could you explain the structure and format of the talks?

A: I personally attended alumni lectures organized by the previous student council, which focused on key aspects of law school exams, such as answer sheet formatting. While these lectures were very helpful, some sessions were too short to cover topics in sufficient detail. Our goal for the upcoming alumni lecture series is to provide deeper and more structured programs.

In selecting speakers, we aim to create opportunities for students to engage with alumni from a variety of professional paths. Not all graduates of Dongguk University’s College of Law go on to law school, so we plan to invite alumni who have become lawyers, labor attorneys, and professionals in other fields. This will allow students to gain both direct and indirect insight into diverse career paths.

Where possible, we intend to include a wide range of alumni, from recent graduates to senior professionals, to share experiences, changes in the legal field, and practical advice across generations. In the recruitment process, we will formally contact alumni to confirm their availability, discuss the lecture topics, content, and format, and coordinate schedules to ensure the lectures are effectively delivered.

Q: How do you plan to pursue academic partnerships, and which fields or organizations are you considering for collaboration? Could you provide details on any institutions you are currently discussing partnerships with?

A: We are actively pursuing academic partnerships, with a particular focus on expanding opportunities for learning support. Given the nature of the law department, many students are preparing for law school, and we noted that several other universities’ law programs already offer LEET-related partnership programs. In response, we have set expanding LEET-related partnerships as a key goal to provide broader academic support for our students.

Specifically, we are currently in contact with the team at Sidae Injae regarding a potential LEET partnership. Discussions are ongoing about providing students with practical resources and content, as well as possible discount benefits, to ensure that these partnerships offer meaningful support for students’ preparation efforts.

Q: Regarding your pledges to provide monthly scholarship updates and information on external activities and competitions, which platforms do you plan to use, and how will you prevent short-notice announcements from being overlooked?

A: For monthly scholarship updates, we plan to focus on official announcements posted in the scholarship section of the Dongguk University College of Law website. For competitions and other external opportunities, we will share information provided by professors and also actively seek out contests that may be especially helpful for students.

To prevent short-notice opportunities from being missed, we will provide concise summaries and post them on Instagram Stories, allowing students to receive timely updates and respond quickly. This approach ensures that even last-minute announcements are accessible and students can take full advantage of available opportunities.

Q: In the general question for the election committee chair, you mentioned low student participation while evaluating this year’s student activities. How do you plan to increase engagement?

A: We plan to provide monthly scholarship updates mainly based on official announcements posted in the scholarship section of the Dongguk University College of Law website. For competitions and other external opportunities, we will share information provided by professors and actively seek out additional contests that may be particularly beneficial for students.

To prevent short-notice announcements from being missed, we will summarize them concisely and post updates on Instagram Stories, allowing students to access timely information and respond quickly. By using these platforms to deliver information in a clear and immediate way, we aim to encourage higher participation and engagement among students.

4. The College of Law Representative Council candidate ‘OPEN’

General Questions

Q: What is the core message of your campaign?

A: The Representative Council is responsible for tasks such as revising regulations and conducting audits initiatives that directly impact students. We believe the council should be accessible to all students and serve as a platform that helps them pursue their goals and develop their skills throughout their university life. With this in mind, we named our campaign team ‘OPEN’ and chose the slogan: “Open to all, growing together,” reflecting our commitment to a transparent and inclusive council.

Q: What are your three main pledges?

A: Our first pledge is to improve awareness of the Representative Council and activate its organization. As mentioned, the Council handles initiatives that are closely tied to students’ daily lives. Yet, despite its importance, many students are unaware of what the Council does or even that it exists. We believe that if students understand the Council’s role, they will take greater interest in its activities and have more opportunities to voice their opinions.

The second pledge focuses on enhancing transparency in the audit process. Audits are one of the Council’s most significant responsibilities, ensuring that students’ funds are used appropriately. Currently, both auditors and those being audited may not fully understand the procedures, especially in cases where audits are conducted infrequently. We plan to establish clear guidelines for all parties involved, specifying step-by-step procedures so that audits are conducted fairly and consistently.

Lastly, we aim to guarantee students’ right to information. Conducting initiatives fairly is important, but it is equally crucial that students are informed about the process and outcomes to protect their rights. For example, during regulation revision meetings, meeting minutes are made public. However, since such meetings often last over an hour, lengthy minutes can be difficult for students to navigate. We plan to provide concise summaries, making it easier for students to understand key points and results.

Q: How would you evaluate this year’s student community?

A: During my time as first departmental student representative, I gained firsthand experience of student life and the workings of student governance. I am grateful to the student organizations that listen to students’ opinions and implement initiatives accordingly. However, I also noticed that many students are still unfamiliar with the Representative Council, which suggests that students’ right to information is not yet fully ensured.

Questions from The Dongguk Post 

Q: You mentioned providing guidelines for the audit process. Could you explain the main content of these guidelines and how they will be applied?

A: I understand that guidelines for those being audited are currently being prepared by the Representative Council. However, I believe this alone is not enough. We plan to clearly establish and communicate the standards that auditors should follow before beginning any audit, for example, specifying when receipts, income and expenditure statements, and bank copies are required, and when a summary statement and bank copy are sufficient. By providing these instructions in advance rather than during the audit, we can ensure a fairer and more transparent auditing process.

Q: You mentioned collecting student opinions through online surveys. How do you plan to share the results and how feedback was reflected with students?

A: We plan to share the results through content related to the Representative Council. After completing each initiative, we will publish a report showing the opinions received, how they were discussed, and what outcomes were reached. This way, students can clearly see how their feedback influenced the council’s decisions.

Q: You ran unopposed without a vice-candidate. How do you plan to distribute roles and responsibilities during your term, and do you anticipate any challenges in managing operations?

A: It is natural for concerns to arise when a single candidate is elected to such an important body as the Representative Council. However, the council is not composed solely of a chair or vice-chair. It also includes class representatives for each year who serve as the voice of the student body. I plan to operate collaboratively with these representatives, so I do not anticipate major issues.

Furthermore, I do not intend to unilaterally assign roles. Each representative will take on important responsibilities, and we will discuss together which tasks each person is best suited for. Roles will be distributed based on the strengths and preferences of individual representatives to ensure that all tasks are carried out effectively.

Q: You mentioned summarizing and organizing key meeting points to ensure students’ right to information. Where do you plan to post these summaries, and how frequently will they be shared?

A: We plan to share summaries not only on Instagram but also on platforms like Everytime and other student notice boards to reach as many students as possible. At the start of the semester, we will introduce what the Representative Council is and provide previews of upcoming initiatives. After each initiative, we will publish a report explaining the process and outcomes. Considering the Council’s activities, we anticipate producing and distributing content approximately every two months.

5. The College of the Arts Student Council candidate, ‘Connection’

General Questions

Q: What is the core message of your campaign?

A: The guiding principle of our campaign is to unite the College of the Arts. By “unite,” we mean connecting the different departments within the College of the Arts, as well as bridging the past College of the Arts with the future College of the Arts.

Q: What are your three main pledges?

A: Our three main pledges are: supporting small arts clubs, revitalizing bulletin board promotions, and producing an activity yearbook.

Q: How would you evaluate this year’s student society?

A: We believe this year was a season of renewal, a time to plant new seeds.

Questions from The Dongguk Post 

Q: What format will the monthly College of the Arts activity digest take, and how will it be structured and edited? Also, what themes and perspectives will be emphasized in the artist interview posts?

A: The monthly activity digest will be produced in a card-news format and will be either posted on bulletin boards or uploaded to our promotional accounts. Its structure will include sections such as the executive committee, events of the month, arts-related issues, and external events, serving as a gateway for College of the Arts students to access both on- and off-campus information.

For the artist interviews, we plan to focus primarily on how artists perceive and approach their own fields of study. This will include insights into what to pay attention to when viewing exhibitions, performances, or plays, providing students with useful perspectives on engaging with various forms of art.

Q: Regarding facility support, does this refer to providing access to on-campus spaces only, or will it extend to off-campus venues as well? Also, will this be limited to the Departments of Fine Arts, or will it be available to other departments such as Theatre, Film & Digital, and Korean Music?

A: Primarily, facility support will focus on granting access to the College of Arts student council office. Extending off-campus venues may be difficult due to various constraints; however, we plan to provide some administrative support, such as guidance for reserving classrooms, to minimize inconvenience for small clubs. This support will be available to all student clubs within the College of the Arts.

Q: What prompted the pledge for a Culture Hall guidance handbook, and why is it necessary? How do you plan to implement “providing information for easier campus life”? Which facilities will be included, and what specific aspects of campus life do you expect this to simplify?

A: With the upcoming construction of the Lotus Hall, significant environmental changes are expected throughout the next year. This large-scale project will affect not only the College of Arts but also the Colleges of the Social Sciences, Police and Criminal Justice, and Dongguk Business school, among others. To help new students adapt, we anticipate the need for comprehensive structural guidance.

For the Culture Hall, the handbook will include basic but essential information, such as the elevator system where it only runs from the first floor above ground to the basement and the use of bridges connecting the Culture Hall to the third floor of the Social Science Building to the second floor. The primary focus of this guidance is expected to be on students’ daily commuting and navigation, making campus life smoother and less confusing.