A series of safety and hygiene concerns related to student dormitories have consistently been raised. The most recent issue on April 20, when a student was injured after a glass partition in a shower stall shattered in Heemang Hall (W4-4), brought attention to the severity of the dormitory conditions. The issue was brought to light through the online student community Everytime. A photo was shared with their vivid description of the scene as continuous collapses of glass walls of the shower stall. This incident sparked concerns among students living in Heemang Hall and prompted the school to conduct an investigation. The investigation revealed that the shelf brackets supporting the weight of the shower stall were absent. Emergency repairs began on May 8 and the Student Life Team is considering replacing the tempered glass with curtains if further accidents occur.
With issues related to dormitories resurfacing among students following this life-threatening incident, KAIST has announced remodeling plans for North dormitories. Jihye Hall (N21) and Silloe Hall (N20) will be renovated during the upcoming summer break, and Jilli Hall (N18) will undergo renovation during the next winter break to match the quality of facilities in Seongsil Hall which was renovated in 2021. The Student Life Team acknowledges the inevitability of temporarily relocating students during the renovation period and has assured that there will be enough rooms on the main campus to accommodate the relocated students. Students have also complained that the budget should be allocated to improve current facilities instead of constructing new buildings. Yongseop Kang, the principal administrative staff from the Student Life Team, emphasized that the budget is already distributed and lined up for particular purposes. He further explained that for the current remodeling scheme the school plans to allocate the school budget and government funding after requesting funding from the government.
In relation to student views on dormitory maintenance, Kang stated, “We receive a lot of requests through the NKDS website regarding facility maintenance or repair. We are aware of these requests; yet it is challenging to resolve every single issue due to the tight budget. We will be committed to keeping costs as low as possible; however, increasing student dormitory fees by 10% in the upcoming Fall semester might be inevitable due to inflation.”
To improve dormitory quality, the school plans to implement various measures, such as strengthening room inspections and developing a mobile app for dormitory residents to report issues. KAIST has also pledged to implement a deposit system to encourage students to take better care of their dormitory rooms. Despite the limitations it has been facing, KAIST plans to take action to address safety and budget concerns related to student dormitories.