What Is “Dressing Like a Yonsei Dental Student”? Controversy Over Publicly Posted Handwritten Reflection Saying, “I Came to Class Having Forgotten My Responsibilities”

[Financial News] Controversy has erupted after it was revealed that students at Yonsei University College of Dentistry wrote handwritten statements of reflection and posted them in a lecture room for violating the dress code.
According to Yonhap News Agency, News 1 and other outlets on the 21st, a handwritten statement of reflection written by a dental school student was recently posted in a lecture room at Yonsei University College of Dentistry. The statement included phrases such as, “I regret violating the dress code due to carelessness” and “I came to class wearing shorts, having forgotten my responsibilities and the rules as a dental student.”
The statement was reportedly written in response to a violation of a notice titled “Appropriate Student Attire for Life at Dental School,” which Yonsei University College of Dentistry posted on its undergraduate website on May 29 last year.
The notice stated, “We recommend that students at Yonsei University College of Dentistry, who are growing into capable, trusted and proud dentists, dress like dental students,” and added, “Short skirts and shorts for male students, as well as slippers, should not be worn.”
It also included guidelines stating, “Do not wear accessories or clothing that is excessive and causes discomfort to others,” and, “Wear shoes that cover the instep while wearing socks that rise above the ankle, and do not wear shoes with the heel folded down.”
As the dress code became known through the controversy over the handwritten statement of reflection, critics began arguing that the rules were excessive. There were also complaints that publicly posting the handwritten statement went too far. Comments continued to appear on Yonsei University’s online community, including, “Even if we give slippers the benefit of the doubt on the grounds that they pose a safety risk, publicly posting the statement of reflection was too much,” and, “A statement of reflection may be understandable, but making it visible to everyone was an uncivilized idea.”
Yonsei University College of Dentistry responded, “The measure was taken for educational purposes regarding the attitude that prospective healthcare professionals should have,” adding, “We are open to discussing improvements to the dress code outside of practical training with students in the future.”
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter