Next week is expected to be a turning point in the ongoing conflict between the government and medical professionals that has lasted for more than a year. The deadline for the return of medical students, who are on a collective leave of absence, and the processing of the bill by the medical workforce supply and demand forecasting committee (forecasting committee), which will determine the future enrollment of medical schools, are concentrated next week. As the tug-of-war continues between the government and the medical community over these two issues, the conflict is likely to deepen if an agreement is not reached.
According to the government and the medical community on the 21st, the 27th, which is next week, is expected to be the deadline for the return of major medical students and the estimated day for the passage of the forecasting committee in the National Assembly. Conclusions regarding events that will determine the future enrollment of medical schools are expected to emerge next week.
The government has set the deadline for the return of medical students by the end of this month, stating that if all return, the enrollment number for next year will revert to 3,058, which is before the increase. Lee Joo-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, announced this policy on the 7th, saying, "If medical students do not return by the end of March, the enrollment number for the 2026 academic year will be maintained at 5,058, considering the increased number."
Colleges are also planning to set the deadline for return between the 21st and 31st, in accordance with the government's policy, and will reject all applications for leaves of absence. Medical students who do not return by then will be expelled. Each university gives failing grades (F) if a student is absent for more than a quarter of the attendance days, and most medical schools will have passed a quarter of their academic schedule by that time.
Yonsei University, Korea University, and Kyungpook National University have set the earliest return deadline for the 21st. Konyang University has set the 24th, while Seoul National University, Ewha Womans University, and Pusan National University have set the 27th as their return date. Eulji University has set the 30th, and Ajou University, Chungbuk National University, Hanyang University, Dankook University, CHA University, Catholic Kwandong University, and Korea University have set the 31st. The Council of Deans for the Advancement of Medical Colleges, consisting of the presidents of 40 universities with medical schools, has set the 28th as the final return deadline. Most medical schools are expected to use the 28th set by the council as their return date.
Although a return deadline has been established, medical students are showing no signs of returning. If medical students do not return, it will become critical whether the rejection of classes is considered a collective action. The government has stated that it cannot accept this class rejection as a collective leave of absence.
In contrast, students and medical professors are arguing that leave of absence is a legitimate right of students. The Korean Association of Medical Students and Professional Graduate Schools (medical student association) issued a joint statement on the 20th, stating, "The leave of absence application that was properly submitted remains valid," and "If we face unfair treatment in the processing of leave applications, we will explore all means, including lawsuits."
The Emergency Response Committee of Medical Professors from Yonsei University and Korea University also released statements on the 20th and 21st, respectively, asserting, "Leave of absence is a legitimate right of students," and stating that this leave decision is not a collective action but rather a voluntary movement of the students. The dean of a medical school in Seoul stated, "This matter has long shifted from the professors' control, with the students taking the lead." He added, "While everyone agrees that the government's insistence on returns is inappropriate, opinions differ among professors on whether students' leaves of absence should be seen as a collective action."
Next week, alongside the return of medical students, the forecasting committee that will determine the enrollment for medical schools after the 2027 academic year is also expected to take shape. The government has stated its intention to pass the forecasting committee bill by the end of this month and prepare for its establishment. The bill passed the entire meeting of the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly on the 18th. It is expected to pass the National Assembly plenary session as early as the 27th.
The forecasting committee is expected to be the key to resolving the conflict triggered by the government and medical community's policy for expanding medical school enrollment. However, given the current state, even if the forecasting committee law passes the National Assembly, there are significant differences in opinions between both sides regarding the contents of the bill, raising doubts about whether it will fulfill its role. The Korean Medical Association has indicated that if the bill passes in its current form, it would consider not participating in the future operations of the forecasting committee.
A representative of the association noted, "The bill is being discussed in a state where the independence and autonomy that we requested have not been reflected at all," and added, "If the forecasting committee is established under the current bill, it seems unlikely that the goal of a supply forecast for medical personnel through agreement will be achieved."