As the application period for the regular admission of medical schools on the 31st approaches, professors from the University of Ulsan Medical School claimed, "The conditions to teach the increased number of new students are not prepared," adding, "If the 2025 academic year admissions are concluded this way, the quota for medical schools in the 2026 academic year should be zero."
Chairperson Choi Chang-min of the National Medical University Professors Emergency Response Committee noted on the 18th through a written appeal from Ulsan University medical school professors that "the deans of medical schools should reduce the quotas in line with their conscience as educators right now."
On that day, Ulsan medical school professors, students, and residents of Asan Medical Center gathered in front of the main gate of Asan Medical Center in Songpa District, Seoul, holding placards opposing the "Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s increase of 2,000 medical school students." They urged the suspension of the medical school quota increase process.
Chairperson Choi stated, "The 'Yoon Suk-yeol's 2025 academic year increase of 2,000 medical school students' is illegal and should be nullified," adding, "In order not to violate the prior notification system under the Higher Education Act, the maximum number of new medical students for the 2025 academic year should be 3,058." The total quota for medical school recruitment in the 2025 academic year is 4,567, combining the original quota of 3,058 and the additional 1,509. Out of this, a total of 3,118 successful applicants for rolling admissions have been announced. The application period for regular admissions will take place from the 31st to January 3 of next year.
Chairperson Choi argued, "Considering the situation of next year's first-year students in the pre-medical course due to a large number of leave of absence, it is the right decision to significantly reduce or not select candidates from the original 3,058 students." He pointed out, "Most medical schools are not prepared to teach the increased number of new students," stating that "there is an unprecedented situation where starting next year, students who took leave in the 2024 class must be educated together with at least double the existing quota over the next six years."
He said, "Not only medical education but also the abnormal educational and training conditions will continue even 10 years after finishing residency training." He continued, "Time is of the essence," stating that "we must immediately halt the medical school quota increase process and implement reasonable solutions to eliminate the bombs left by Yoon Suk-yeol."
He also urged, "The National Assembly and the government should unite and, from a grand perspective, temporarily halt the ongoing medical school admissions selection process to urgently discuss with deans, medical school deans, and professors to prepare reduction selection measures considering the educational conditions and situations of each university for immediate implementation."