Medical Students' Valid Leaves of Absence Also 'Surge'... Cumulative 7,850 Cases, 41.8% of Medical Students

257 Applicants from 14 Schools on the 18th
3 Withdrawn Leaves, 8 Approved Leaves
Class Boycotts at 8 Universities

Amid ongoing tensions between the government and the medical community over the allocation of medical school quotas, it was reported on the 18th that 41.8% of medical students nationwide have submitted valid leave of absence applications.

According to the Ministry of Education on that day, a survey conducted on 40 universities nationwide with medical schools confirmed that valid leave of absence applications were submitted by 257 students from 14 universities. The cumulative number of applications reached a total of 7,850, which accounts for 41.8% of the total medical students nationwide (18,793 as of April last year).

The number of applications over the three days from the 15th to the 17th was 777, showing a significant recent increase in leave of absence requests. This surge followed the announcement of a solidarity leave campaign by the Korean Medical School Student Association (KMSA) on the 9th.

On that day, it was confirmed that 3 students from 2 universities withdrew their leave applications, while 8 students from 5 universities were granted leave. The Ministry of Education stated that none of these approvals were for 'solidarity leave.'

On the 16th, student representatives decided that medical students nationwide would submit leave of absence applications together on the 20th of this month in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school quotas by 2,000. A red light is on at a traffic signal near a medical school in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Additionally, class boycotts were confirmed at 8 universities, and the Ministry of Education explained that these schools are making efforts to maintain normal academic operations through student counseling and explanations.

Valid leave of absence applications are those submitted following procedures stipulated by school regulations, including parental consent and department head signatures. Although the Ministry of Education has been counting only valid leave applications since this month, the cumulative number has already exceeded 7,000.

The government is expected to announce the allocation plan for increased medical school quotas at each university tomorrow, the 20th.