Lee Ju-ho "If students want, I will talk directly"... Encouraging medical students to return

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, expressed his willingness to directly engage in dialogue with medical students who are on alliance leave and refusing classes, encouraging them to return.

On the 27th, Lee visited Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and held a meeting with the university president, the dean of the medical school, and the director of Kangwon National University Hospital, stating, "If the (medical school) students wish, I will come down personally to have a conversation."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This meeting was arranged to listen to the university's plans for improving educational conditions following the government's announcement on the 20th to increase the quota for medical school admissions by university. Amid ongoing class refusals by medical students opposing the policy to increase medical school quotas, Lee reiterated that it is desirable for students to return and resume normal academic operations.

Lee urged, "Students should first return to school and focus on their studies while voicing their opinions to the university and the government," adding, "Universities should actively prepare flexible measures to ensure that students can return and continue their studies without disruption."

To medical professors who have begun submitting collective resignation letters, he emphasized, "If even one student wishes to learn, professors must protect the classrooms," and "You must not leave the patients who desperately need you."

He continued, "Sustaining collective action will not resolve this situation," and proposed, "Please stop the collective resignation movement, which most of the public does not sympathize with, and let us join forces to overcome this crisis through dialogue."

Additionally, Lee stated that financial support will be provided to medical schools to accommodate the increased number of students. He said, "We will fully support with strong determination so that universities can adequately prepare for high-quality medical education during the three years before the start of the clinical phase."

Addressing Kangwon National University, Lee requested, "In line with the purpose of this medical reform, please make efforts to actively expand the regional talent admission track starting from the 2025 academic year so that local talents can be trained as excellent medical personnel," adding, "Through this, regional flagship universities can develop and invigorate the local education and medical ecosystem." With this increase, the medical school quota at Kangwon National University has risen from 49 to 132 students.