Universities that closed applications for readmission for students on leave of absence have sent warnings of expulsion to those who have not returned. As universities that have not finished applications for return are also indicating a tough response, there is a possibility of a large-scale expulsion of medical students. Nevertheless, neither the government nor universities, nor even the medical students themselves seem to understand why they are not returning to school.
Medical students from the 22nd and 23rd years who met with ChosunBiz on the 25th presented differing requirements for conditions of return. Since the medical student organization did not propose any substantial conditions for return, each student provided their own reasons. A medical student from the 23rd year who took a leave of absence after completing the first year of the preliminary study remarked, "Honestly, I don’t know what I should take a leave of absence for," adding that it feels "like fighting a ghost."
◇The core demands are accepted by the government…still, "distrust in the government"
The medical education curriculum consists of 2 years of preliminary studies and 4 years of main studies, totaling 6 years. Many students on leave of absence have emerged from both preliminary and main studies. Medical students who do not wish to return cited their distrust in the government as a reason for not returning.
A first-year main study student met on the campus of a medical school in Seoul said, "The government claims that if we return, it will revert the admission numbers for the next year's medical college to before the increase, but in fact, it is saying that it will keep the standard at 4,567 and merely adjust the recruitment numbers." He expressed doubt that the government would properly discuss the medical college admissions quota after next year, saying, "The committee for estimating the supply and demand of medical personnel is also being pushed according to the government's preferences."
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho stated on the 7th, "The admission number for the next year's medical schools will be adjusted to 3,058, as it was in the 24th year," adding, "However, it is conditional upon everyone returning by the end of March."
The medical community interprets the government's use of the term "admission numbers" to mean that even if all medical students return, the student quota will remain at 4,567, reflecting the increase. This student noted, "Instead of adjusting the admission quota for next year, the quota itself should be reverted to before the increase to change students' minds to return."
There have also been claims that the government should discard the "essential medical package," which serves as the basis for expanding medical school admissions. A medical student who completed the second year of preliminary studies and took a leave of absence stated, "If the essential medical package is implemented, it will be difficult to open a practice under a license system, and the doctors left in university hospitals will have no choice but to accept poorer treatment conditions," adding, "The plan to enhance compensation for medical accidents ultimately places doctors at a disadvantage in lawsuits."
However, the government recently clarified its stance of not pursuing a practice opening license system. While it acknowledged that it did consider implementing a practice opening license system, it concluded that changing the licensing system was impossible after consulting with experts. Essentially, the core demands of the medical students have already been reflected in government policies.
◇Differences in positions between the medical student organization and the government regarding the 8 key demands
The 8 key demands announced by the Korea Medical College and Medical Graduate School Student Association (medical student organization) in March last year are similar. The medical student organization demanded the full abolition of essential medical policy packages and medical school expansion policies based on the premise of returning medical students, the establishment of a medical-government consultative body, and improvements in the training environment.
Nearly a year later, many of the demands of the medical students have been reflected in government policies. However, medical students are still not putting forward any additional conditions beyond the 8 key demands. They argue that the existing demands have not yet been reflected in policies due to differences in perspectives and interpretations regarding the policies.
For example, although the formation of a medical-government consultative body is being pursued through the establishment of a committee for estimating medical personnel supply and demand, medical students and physician groups believe that the medical community's demands have not been reflected in the committee at all. Content such as improvement of the fee system and training environment for residents has already been reflected in the first phase of the medical reform implementation plan announced last year, but there are still differing opinions between the medical community and the government regarding the details.
Given the situation, medical students are struggling to find reasons to continue their leave of absence. A medical student from the 23rd year remarked, "Seniors are emphasizing solidarity without providing clear guidelines on why we should take a leave of absence," adding, "I want to return, but I plan not to come back this time either for fear of falling out of favor with my seniors."
◇Some demand that next year's medical school quota be set at '0'
Amid this, representatives of medical students and physicians have even claimed that there should be no recruitment of new medical students next year, adding to the confusion. They are willing to sacrifice the opportunities of examinees who challenge medical school admissions next year to ensure that students on leave of absence receive normal education upon their return. If students on leave come back, the 24th and 25th years would have to be educated together as freshmen this year.
Lee Sun-woo, the emergency response committee chair of the medical student organization, stated in an interview with a domestic media outlet in January, "Since simultaneous education for the 24th and 25th years is impossible, education and promotion must be sequential," arguing that "there should not be any new admissions for the 2026 academic year." Kim Taek-woo, president of the Korea Medical Association, also stated at the regular monthly meeting of the National Association of American Medical Society Presidents held on the 8th that for the same reason, "new admissions for the 2026 academic year should not be made."
The medical community considers these opinions to be personal and not representative of the views of all physicians or medical students. The medical association clarified that it was merely trying to convey that such opinions exist and had not made an official statement. Medical students expressed that while they understand the remarks of the medical student organization representative, they believe such claims are unrealistic.
A first-year main study student stated, "I understand why the chair of the medical student organization made such claims, but I know that these are conditions the government would never accept," adding, "It was merely the personal opinion of the chair, and no medical students agree with this view." He continued, "The emergence of such extreme opinions is due to past instances where decisions made through discussions between the medical community and the government were quietly altered years later."
Senior physicians have encouraged medical students who have not returned to resume their studies. Kang Seok-hoon, a professor at Kangwon National University Medical School, stated at a forum held by the Medical Policy Institute of the Medical Association on the 24th, "The struggle will be handled by the professors, so students should now return and focus on their studies." The Seoul National University medical school administration also sent a letter to medical students on the 25th, stating, "We can no longer allow students' academic gaps to persist," and requested them to "please muster the courage to return."