The Ministry of Education noted on the 7th that many students have returned, primarily those in the 3rd and 4th years of medical school. The education authorities plan to announce the number of medical students to be recruited for the 2026 academic year, considering the actual class participation rate of medical students.
Kim Hong-soon, Director General of Medical Education Support at the Ministry of Education, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Center, “Up until last week, 100% of students (in medical school) had returned, but true return means participating in classes.” He also noted, “It is certain that many students have returned, focusing on those in their 3rd and 4th years.”
The medical education curriculum lasts a total of 6 years, including 2 years of pre-medical training and 4 years of clinical training. Students receive education focused on general liberal arts and medical-related subjects for the first two years, and then from the 3rd year, they engage in classes and practical training to become physicians. Classes for students in their 3rd and 4th years are largely centered on hospital practice, and they must complete a clinical training period of 52 weeks, working 36 hours per week to qualify for the national medical examination.
Director General Kim stated, “3rd and 4th-year students, who must complete hospital practice, have no time to postpone.”
However, the Ministry of Education did not reveal the timing for announcing the number of medical school recruits for next year. Director General Kim said, “We have not set a deadline for observing how long to see participation in classes,” adding, “We will decide based on the situation on the ground.”
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed that there will be no academic flexibility this year, as seen last year. Director General Kim mentioned, “When upperclassmen return, the atmosphere tends to shift, so we expect (pre-medical students will also return),” but emphasized that “this time there will be no academic flexibility.”
The Ministry of Education also announced that it would respond strongly to actions such as the dissemination of personal information of returning students, mainly occurring within some medical and medical student communities. Earlier, the Korea Communications Standards Commission reviewed the emergency closure request for the doctor and medical student community Medistaff submitted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 28th of last month, deleting referred posts for investigation and demanding the cancellation of the access rights of malicious users.
Director General Kim said, “Even after the decision of the Communications Standards Commission was made, another complaint regarding personal information disclosure was received,” and added, “If we receive such complaints one more time, we will make an emergency closure request for Medistaff.”