Removal of Student Posters on Campus Constitutes Violation of Freedom of Expression
NHRCK recommends institutional improvements regarding removal of unauthorized posters on university campuses -
□ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho, hereinafter “NHRCK”) announced on September 9, 2025, that it has recommended the president of ○○○ University (hereinafter “the Respondent University”) to take measures ensuring that students’ freedom of expression is not unduly restricted. The Commission specifically recommended that the university develop measures to allow students to freely express their opinions through campus postings, and amend its student disciplinary code to remove provisions that could impose sanctions for political expressions unrelated to academic matters.
□ The complaint was filed in May 2024 by a student of the Respondent University, alleging that the removal of posters displayed by two fellow students (“Student A” and “Student B”) violated their right to freedom of expression.
○ Student A had posted a notice commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sewol Ferry tragedy, while Student B had put up a poster calling for improvements to the university’s learning environment. The university removed both posters on the grounds that they did not conform to the prescribed format and were posted without prior approval.
□ The university argued that its actions were in accordance with existing campus publicity regulations and emphasized that it had not censored the content of the posters, but merely enforced procedural requirements.
□ However, the NHRCK’s Committee on Child Rights (Subcommittee Chair: Commissioner Lee Sook-jin) found as follows:
○ While university autonomy must be respected, regulations that entirely prohibit political or social expression, or that require prior approval for all postings, risk undermining the essential function of freedom of expression.
○ In this case, both students sought to express opinions on matters of public interest. The university’s decision to remove their posters solely for procedural reasons excessively restricted their right to freedom of expression.
○ Moreover, disciplinary provisions concerning students’ political activities in the university’s rules may have a chilling effect, discouraging students from engaging in political expression or posting critical opinions about university governance.
□ Accordingly, the NHRCK recommended that the university president establish measures allowing students to freely post materials, such as by ensuring that at least the student council bulletin boards can be used without prior approval, and amend the disciplinary code to eliminate any provisions that may unduly restrict freedom of expression.
