First Rejection Decision Among Increased Enrollment Universities
Implementation Plan Must Be Finalized by End of May
Likely to Affect 31 Other Medical Schools
Ministry of Education: "Must Follow Minister's Determination"
Busan National University rejected the amendment to the school regulations for increasing the medical school quota according to the allocation of medical school quotas. As this is the first university where the amendment to increase the medical school quota was rejected, it is expected to influence the decisions on school regulation amendments at other universities targeted for quota increases.
On the afternoon of the 7th, Busan National University announced at the faculty meeting held at the university headquarters that the 'Partial Amendment to Busan National University School Regulations' concerning the increase of the medical school quota was rejected. About 30 people, including the president and deans of colleges, attended the meeting.
Previously, on the 30th of last month, Busan National University submitted the 2025 academic year university admission plan, which confirmed the selection of 163 medical students for next year, to the Korea Council for University Education. This meant increasing the quota by 38 students, which is 50% of the 75 additional students allocated by the Ministry of Education, on top of the existing quota of 125 students.
However, at the faculty meeting, internal stakeholders gathered to discuss the amendment of the school regulations for the medical school quota increase, but the plan ultimately failed. Although there was a consensus on the need for an appropriate scale of increase, concerns were raised that sufficient social discussion is necessary before the university finalizes the increase scale.
A Busan National University official stated, "Before individual universities finalize the scale of increase, responsible entities of the national community should meet promptly to conduct sufficient discussions and reach social consensus," adding, "All faculty members agreed that the university should make decisions in a direction that helps resolve the crisis of collective failure of medical students and the medical vacuum caused by the absence of residents."
On the same day, the Busan National University Faculty Association issued a statement strongly demanding, "Even now, the university headquarters should prioritize the future-oriented values of our university's academic growth and the enhancement of students' rights and interests, and make decisions that ensure transparency and fairness."
The 32 universities nationwide, whose medical school quotas will be increased next year, submitted the '2025 Academic Year University Admission Plan Amendment' to the Korea Council for University Education by the 30th of last month, and after the council's review, each university must amend its school regulations by the end of May. However, with Busan National University being the first to have its amendment rejected, it may affect other universities that are experiencing conflicts with the medical community.
Regarding Busan National University's decision, the Ministry of Education stated that each university must comply with the government's decision. The Ministry said, "According to the Higher Education Act and its Enforcement Decree, the medical school student quota is determined by the university president through school regulations, following the provisions set by the Minister of Education," adding, "Therefore, if Busan National University's school regulation amendment is ultimately canceled, the Ministry of Education can issue a corrective order, and if this is not complied with, administrative measures such as suspension of student recruitment will be taken."
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