The collective leave of absence by medical students, which has continued for over a year in protest against the medical school expansion policy, is expected to come to an end around the deadline for returning to school on the 31st. However, as the conflict between the government and the medical community remains unresolved, challenges such as the normalization of medical education, residency training, and the operation of university hospitals still need to be addressed.
According to the medical and educational sectors, on the afternoon of the 31st, Gachon University, Konkuk University, Keimyung University, Dankook University, and Daegu Catholic University will close the application for the return of medical students. Previously, medical students at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Catholic University, Ulsan University, Chungnam National University, and Pusan National University effectively returned.
Thus, the collective leave of absence by medical students has been resolved, but issues remain unsolved. The government has proposed that medical students return and resume normal classes on the condition that the number of students to be recruited for medical schools next year is frozen at 3,058, prior to the increase. However, it is uncertain whether medical students will participate in classes normally. Koo Yeon-hee, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, noted at a regular briefing this morning that "paying tuition does not equate to returning" and that "it will take more time to see if they actually participate in classes."
Major medical school student councils such as those at Yonsei University and Catholic University decided to register in order to avoid expulsion but did not promise normal classes. There are reports that medical students are changing their method of protest to "leave of absence after registration" or "refusal of classes after registration," indicating that it may take time to normalize classes. Some medical students are discussing applying for one or two courses with the minimum credit (3 credits) to avoid expulsion for non-attendance while continuing to refuse classes. There is also a possibility of conflict among medical students regarding class participation.
Normalizing the training of residents is an even greater challenge. After the mass departure of residents, university hospitals have been operating under emergency management, reducing hospitalization and surgeries. The issues of patients wandering in search of emergency rooms capable of providing treatment and delays in surgeries for cancer patients have worsened.
According to data received from the Ministry of Health and Welfare by lawmaker Seo Myung-ok (People Power Party) on the 17th, there are currently 211 interns, 1,461 residents, and a total of 1,672 individuals working at training hospitals nationwide. The first-year quota is 3,594, but only 261 have shown up. The number of first to fourth-year residents associated with the "big five" major hospitals in Seoul is 393, which is about one-third of the total quota. However, this is an increase of 189 compared to the 204 residents working at big five hospitals last October.
Major training hospitals typically conduct second-half residency recruitment in July and August, but there is skepticism regarding the possibility of residents returning to work. An associate professor at a university hospital in the metropolitan area, requesting anonymity, stated, "Most of the residents who resigned did not return even when offered special training programs," and noted that many are already employed as 'pay doctors' in other clinics and hospitals and returning to the previous level of residency before the conflict between the medical community and the government is unlikely.
He stated that "there should be substantial changes in the training environment, such as legally protecting residents in the event of medical disputes and preserving their time for rest." There are also voices suggesting that it is time to discuss new forms of hospital management rather than returning to the past.
A representative from a big five hospital remarked, "Things have not changed since the conflict between the medical community and the government has arisen," and added, "The big five hospitals and other general hospitals are focusing on establishing a hospital system without residents and need to discuss how to proceed with training and hospital operations in the future."