Student Human Rights Must Be Properly Protected

The recent suicide of a graduate student at Chonnam National University (CNU) has become a turning point, highlighting the fatal potential of “gapjil”—acts of unwarranted interference, pressure, and intimidation by a superior, and related human rights abuses on campus. Recognizing the significance of the case, the university established a fact-finding committee to investigate evidence that could substantiate the students’ accusations of abuse, and an investigation is currently underway. In this article, the Chonnam Tribune examines the actual conditions of student human rights, focusing on rights violations related to gapjil, as well as the effectiveness of current institutional systems in protecting students vulnerable to abuse of power on campus.

Student Human Rights on Campus
One in three students reported experiencing a human rights violation at least once on campus in 2024, according to the 2024 Student Human Rights Survey Report released by the Human Rights Center (HRC) at CNU. Notably, the survey results indicated human rights violations related to gapjil, including abuse of power, unwarranted interference, pressure, and intimidation. Both undergraduate and graduate students reported similar proportions of this abuse—23.6 percent and 23 percent respectively. However, the perpetrators of human rights abuse differed: undergraduates primarily pointed to upperclassmen, while graduate students most often identified professors. 

The most common violation was “unwanted interference related to personal life,” reported by 10.2 percent of students. More than half of the victims, 56.7 percent, pointed to seniors as the perpetrators, with online spaces being the most common location for the abuse at 39.1 percent. For graduate students, the most frequent type of gapjil was “being required to engage in or coerced into labor outside the normal scope of work or without proper compensation,” with a positive response rate of 12.1 percent. Professors were identified as the perpetrators by 61.2 percent of respondents, and the primary locations for the mistreatment were classrooms and graduate research laboratories—32.8 percent and 31.9 percent respectively.

The HRC’s Challenges
The HRC plays a central role in identifying and addressing human rights violations by monitoring the state of students’ rights through annual surveys and providing a formal reporting channel. When a victim submits a report and requests an investigation, a committee is formed to deliberate the case. Disciplinary measures may be imposed.

Yet, there are gaps in two critical aspects—accessibility and confidentiality—that are necessary for students to securely discuss or report human rights abuses. The center meets accessibility requirements by offering consultations and reporting through in-person visits, phone calls, and email, as well as providing services in English. But confidentiality remains a significant concern. Victims often lack trust in these procedures, leading many to hesitate to report or confide only in their inner circles. “While confidentiality is maintained during counseling, a whistleblower’s identity may be disclosed once a case is formally filed and an investigation begins,” explained Jung Kyoung-tae, an HRC counselor. Resolving this issue requires legal and institutional actions at a higher level.

Educational and Support Programs
The HRC offers diverse programs, such as customized human rights education programs, to raise student awareness and enhance their consciousness of human rights. However, many students remain unaware of the issues in detail because these educational sessions are not mandatory. Without requests from college officials, the HRC has no authority to mandate such programs, highlighting the need for active staff engagement in each college for their substantial growth.

The Graduate School also contributes through its ombudsman system, in which experienced retired faculty members provide counseling on diverse graduate student issues and offer workshops to enhance mental resilience and reduce emotional problems. “Starting in the second half of 2025, the university will launch counseling programs in collaboration with the Student Life Counseling Center to identify and assist psychologically vulnerable students, as well as strengthen the psychological support system by gathering student feedback,” said Jeong Bo-ra, an official from the Prospects Cultivation Office at Graduate School Innovation Headquarters.

The Way Forward: A Respectful Campus for All
The Center of Audit and Inspection at the Office of Administrative Affairs is also involved in preventing unfair treatment and power abuse and recently conducted a survey on the actual conditions of power abuse, aiming to handle campus complaints as part of its anti-corruption policies within the university. As for the abuse reporting channel, Park Min-jeong, an official at the center, said, “We understand that it has been difficult to locate the gapjil reporting channel on the university’s website due to low visibility. To address this, we plan to set up a dedicated page for gapjil reporting in September, providing clearer guidance on the reporting procedures.”

Human rights are often shaped by subjective standards. Therefore, it is important to continue efforts such as human rights education, not only to protect oneself from violations but also to prevent the infringement of others’ rights. In this context, the HRC and related institutions play significant roles in restraining perpetrators and supporting victims. Through continuous monitoring, education, and active engagement with the university community, CNU can enhance overall awareness and sensitivity to human rights, preventing violations and fostering a safe and respectful campus. 

By Choi Ji-yoon, Reporter