The Korea Baduk Association (Image courtesy of the Korea Baduk Association)
SEOUL, Jun. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – In a legal dispute surrounding the planned closure of Myongji University’s Go department, the only such program in the world, a court has rejected a request by professors and students to suspend the university’s admission plan that would discontinue new student enrollment.
According to legal circles, the Seoul Southern District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 51 dismissed an injunction filed by professors Nam Chi-hyung and Daniela Trinks of Myongji University’s Go department, along with 69 current students from the department and the Korea Go High School.
The injunction sought to suspend the effectiveness of Myongji University’s admission plan, which was approved by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE).
Myongji University has been discussing the closure of its Go department since 2022, citing financial difficulties and a declining population of Go players.
In April of this year, the university announced a revision to its regulations, stating that it would not admit new students to the Go department starting next year. The KCUE subsequently approved this change to the university’s admission plan.
Nam and other professors argued that the process of revising the regulations and obtaining approval from the KCUE was flawed, both procedurally and substantively, prompting their request for a suspension of the plan in court.
During the court proceedings, Nam’s side contended that while the closure of the Go department was discussed during the proposed integration of Myongji University and Myongji College, the two institutions ultimately did not merge. Therefore, they argued, the decision to close the department was unjustified.
Additionally, they claimed that the revision of the regulations was not based on objective criteria and failed to address the potential infringement of professors’ job security and students’ right to education resulting from the department’s closure.
Notably, around 40 members of the South Korean national Go team, including the top-ranked Shin Jin-seo, the team’s coach, and players, as well as professional Go players who graduated from the department, submitted petitions to the court regarding the injunction.
However, the court ruled that “while the agreement to pursue the integration of the two schools mentioned related content, it is difficult to interpret this as meaning that the closure of the Go department could not proceed if the integration did not occur.”
The court further stated, “The revision of the regulations followed proper procedures and was carried out legally.”
Regarding the concerns raised, the court opined, “The current students can still obtain their bachelor’s degrees in the Go department, and the faculty members do not appear to face direct changes in their status. Considering these factors, the lack of provisions addressing the protection of the plaintiffs’ rights or legitimate interests in the revised regulations alone does not render it illegal.”
Established in 1997, Myongji University’s Go department has been the world’s only academic program dedicated to the game for over 20 years, producing professional Go players and related personnel.
This year, the department had a quota of 21 students, with an estimated total enrollment of around 100 students, including international students.
The group of professors have appealed the court’s dismissal decision, and the appeal will be heard by the Seoul High Court.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
