Ministry of Education: "No Minutes Taken for Allocation Committee Meeting... Not Materials Requested by Court" (Comprehensive)

"Increased Enrollment Target Universities Will Be Monitored for Revisions"
"Correction Orders Possible if Enrollment Increase Not Followed"
Regarding 'Allocation Committee Meeting Minutes Controversy': "No Obligation to Prepare"

The Ministry of Education expressed "regret" over the rejection of the medical school quota increase amendment at Pusan National University, where it was first voted down, and stated that it will monitor all medical schools subject to quota increases to ensure that the amendments to school regulations can be made.

Regarding the minutes of the 'Medical School Quota Allocation Review Committee' meeting, which the medical community demanded to be disclosed, the Ministry explained that these do not correspond to the materials requested by the Seoul High Court and that no 'minutes' as defined by law have been prepared.

"Correction order possible" in the first case of school regulation amendment rejection

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 8th, Vice Minister Oh Seok-hwan held a press conference at the briefing room of the Government Complex Sejong and said, "Recently, despite the expansion of the medical school quota at Pusan National University, the amendment to the school regulations reflecting this was rejected at the faculty meeting."

At the faculty meeting held at the university headquarters on the afternoon of the previous day, Pusan National University rejected the 'Partial Amendment to Pusan National University School Regulations' concerning the increase in the medical school quota. Vice Minister Oh explained, "According to Article 6 of the Higher Education Act and Article 4 of its Enforcement Decree, the amendment to school regulations is finally promulgated by the head of the school, and in the case of Pusan National University, the amendment procedure has not yet been completed. The medical school quotas for each university must comply with the matters determined by the Minister of Education, and if not followed, correction orders can be issued according to Article 60 of the Higher Education Act."

He continued, "Since the university itself submitted the demand for increasing the medical school quota, I ask that the university gather opinions internally and complete the amendment to the school regulations," adding, "Since Pusan National University has stated that there is no disagreement on the necessity of expanding the medical school, I hope that the amendment reflecting the quota increase will be reconsidered soon and the school regulations revised accordingly." He also said, "The Ministry of Education will monitor whether the amendments to school regulations at each university are made within the scope of the law."

According to the Ministry of Education on that day, out of the 32 universities subject to quota increases, 12 have completed amendments to their school regulations, and the remaining 20 are in the process of making amendments.

When asked whether pressuring universities such as Pusan National University, which may resist amending their school regulations, Vice Minister Oh emphasized again, "Matters related to the amendment of school regulations must be carried out clearly according to the purpose of the amended laws. It should be conducted properly according to the law, and all universities are proceeding according to that law."

Dispute over medical school allocation committee 'minutes': "No minutes exist"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, the government and the medical community have been in dispute over the existence of minutes from meetings discussing the expansion of medical school admission quotas.

The National Council of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop), a nationwide organization of 40 medical school professor groups, issued a press release the day before, stating, "While the Medical Issues Consultative Body, the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee, and the Medical Workforce Expert Committee have disclosed their member lists, only the Allocation Committee has not disclosed its members, raising questions," and urged the disclosure of members and meeting minutes. Earlier, on the 30th of last month, the Seoul High Court, during the appeal hearing for the suspension of the medical school quota increase, demanded that approval for the increase be withheld until mid-May, stating, "Final approval should not be granted before the court's decision."

In response, Vice Minister Oh explained, "Unlike the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee, the Allocation Committee is not a statutory committee and has no obligation to prepare minutes," adding, "Furthermore, the High Court, which is currently conducting the appeal related to the medical school quota increase, has not separately requested the minutes of the Allocation Committee."

Additionally, Shim Min-cheol, Director of Human Resources Policy Planning at the Ministry of Education, explained the definition of 'minutes' according to Article 18, Paragraph 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Management of Public Records. He said, "Minutes must include the name of the meeting, the organizing body, date and place, list of attendees and observers, order of proceedings, agenda items, summaries of statements, decisions made, and voting results. The summaries we prepared do not contain all these elements."

When asked again about the existence of minutes, Director Shim explained, "According to the law, minutes were not prepared," but added, "There are documents summarizing the results of the meetings."

He also stated that they will sincerely respond to the materials and explanations requested by the court. He added, "The member list and specific discussion contents of the Allocation Committee were not disclosed from the beginning to respect the members who found it difficult to participate in sensitive policy processes, so we ask for your understanding."

Medical students facing risk of failing a year: "Universities are preparing measures"

Earlier, on March 22, it was explained that a 'Medical Education Support TF (Task Force)' consisting of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination was formed to take charge of supporting improvements in medical education conditions. They surveyed the current status and future seven-year demand and investment plans for improvements in eight categories including faculty, facilities, and equipment at the 32 medical schools scheduled for quota increases, and are currently preparing budget support plans.

Regarding students' risk of failing a year, it was explained, "We requested flexible academic management by May 10 (to universities)," and "Each university is preparing specific measures."