Duksung Women's University to close French and German language departments

The Duksung Women's University campus in Dobong District, northern Seoul [DUKSUNG WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY]

Duksung Women's University will stop admitting students to its French language and literature and German language and literature departments starting from 2025, while creating a new department for students whose majors remain undecided.

The Duksung School Foundation amended the university's regulations so that the French language and literature and German language and literature departments will not be able to admit students starting the 2025 academic year, according to the university on Wednesday.

Current first-year students will be the last group of students who can choose to major in the two fields. Duksung Women's University students are admitted to a college of their choice, choosing their major in the second semester of their first year.

The Duksung School Foundation also decided to create a new department for undecided majors, which will have a student quota of 259.

Duksung Women's University President Kim Gun-hee said in March that plans to not admit students to the French and German departments would be discussed at a faculty senate meeting, stating it is "necessary to make changes for majors that can't sustain themselves."

The agenda was passed at a meeting on April 5, allowing the Duksung School Foundation to discuss making the necessary amendments.

This is the third time the issue was brought up at a university faculty senate meeting — first in June last year and also in February — but it was voted down by members both times.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]