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Students at Yonsei University's College of Dentistry wrote handwritten letters of apology for wearing shorts to class, and the letters were posted in a lecture room, drawing criticism after the practice came to light.
"A Serious Disqualification" for Wearing Shorts
According to Yonhap News Agency and other outlets on the 21st, students at the Yonsei dental school recently wrote handwritten apology letters for failing to comply with a school dress code.
One student wrote, "I deeply regret violating the dress code through carelessness," adding, "Chasing comfort with the complacent thought that the weather was hot, I forgot my duty and the rules as a dental school student and came to school wearing shorts."
The student went on to describe neat attire as a basic quality required of a medical professional, calling the behavior "a serious disqualification and a shameful attitude for an aspiring medical professional." Another student was also reported to have written an apology to the effect that the hot weather had led to the rule violation.
The controversy grew beyond the letters themselves when it emerged that they had been posted publicly in a lecture room.
No Short Skirts or Slides — What "Dressing Like a Dental Student" Means
The rules the students broke are set out in a "Guide to Student Attire Appropriate for Dental School Life" posted on the college's website. In the notice, published in May last year, the school said it "recommends that Yonsei dental students, who are growing into capable, trusted and proud dentists, dress like dental students."
The rules are fairly specific. Comfortable trousers, dress shoes and sneakers are permitted, but short skirts, shorts and slides are not. Revealing clothing is also restricted.
There are standards for shoes and socks as well. Students are told to wear socks that come above the ankle and shoes that cover the top of the foot, and not to fold down the backs of their shoes. Hair is to be kept neat and tied back during clinical practice if it is longer than shoulder length, and hats are not to be worn indoors. Accessories or clothing that could make others uncomfortable are also to be avoided.
The college says it applies the guidelines on the grounds that students in pre-clinical years, not only those in the hospital program who see patients directly, need to gradually acquire the bearing expected of a future dentist.
"We Understand Safety Rules" vs. "Posting the Letters Went Too Far"
Students have criticized both the scope of the dress code and the decision to make the apologies public. In particular, they question whether it is appropriate to treat shorts worn to general lectures or on the commute the same way as clothing such as slides, which can pose safety risks during clinical practice.
On an online community used by Yonsei students, reactions included, "Even granting that slides are a safety issue, making the apology letters public went too far," and, "Writing an apology is one thing, but making it public to everyone is a barbaric idea."
Some said the bigger problem was not requiring the letters but posting them in a lecture room where other students could see them. One student criticized the move, saying, "Posting the apology letters in the lecture room is revolting," while others questioned whether shorts and slides need to be restricted even in general classes or on the commute.
The college's position is that the dress guidelines and this measure are intended to teach the bearing expected of aspiring medical professionals.
It did, however, leave open the possibility of adjusting the standards in situations unrelated to clinical practice. The Yonsei dental school told Yonhap News Agency that the step was "a measure taken for educational purposes regarding the bearing required of aspiring medical professionals," while adding that it "can talk with students with an open attitude about improving dress rules outside clinical practice going forward."
