Medical Schools Accelerate '2000 Student Increase'... Universities Face Task of Amending Academic Regulations

Court of Appeals 'Dismisses' Appeal
Universities Resume Academic Regulation Revision Process
Revised Proposals Must Be Submitted Next Week
Medical Community Opposition Adds Pressure on Regulation Changes

The court ruled in favor of the government in the appeal trial to suspend the enforcement of the medical school quota increase, effectively confirming the increase in medical school quotas for the first time in 27 years. Universities now face the task of completing the procedures to finalize the admission guidelines for the 2025 academic year by the end of this month. Amid ongoing opposition from the medical community, their burden is expected to grow even heavier.

On the 17th, a representative from Kangwon National University told this paper, "We had postponed the university council meeting, but we plan to hold it next week," adding, "We had somewhat anticipated that the court's decision would be dismissed, and (the internal procedures) are expected to pass smoothly." A representative from Chungbuk National University also said, "We will proceed with the review process for revising the school regulations as scheduled," but regarding whether the court's decision would change the review outcome, they responded, "We need to discuss it to know for sure."

According to the Ministry of Education, among the 32 universities targeted for medical school quota increases, 12 have completed revisions to their school regulations so far. The remaining universities had been withholding their stance, waiting to see the court's decision amid opposition from internal faculty councils. However, as the court yesterday dismissed the appeal to suspend enforcement of the medical school quota increase, momentum is expected to build for the quota increase. The remaining universities, which had delayed decisions until now, are now in a position where they must conclude their discussions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, Chungbuk National University had planned to review the school regulation revisions on the 14th but postponed the decision by about a week. Kangwon National University also reviewed the revision proposal but delayed processing it until after the final ruling. Busan National University, which rejected the revision at a faculty meeting earlier this month, is currently discussing a re-review procedure.

The problem is that opposition from the medical community is expected to intensify. For universities to reflect the increased medical school quotas in the 2025 university admissions, they must revise the "University Admission Implementation Plan" announced last April and finalize it by the end of this month. The final authority to decide on school regulation revisions lies with each university president. University presidents must gather opinions through university legislative review committees, deans' meetings, faculty councils, and university councils, and submit the amendment proposals to the Korea Council for University Education by next week at the latest. However, if internal opposition intensifies, the presidents may face additional burdens in making their decisions.

The medical community, including professors, intends to attempt a Supreme Court rehearing. Lee Byung-chul, the legal representative of the National Association of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop) from the law firm Chanjong, said immediately after the Seoul High Court's dismissal decision, "We will do our best to prepare for the Supreme Court rehearing process," and added, "We hope the rehearing case will be reviewed and finalized before May 31." On the other hand, the Ministry of Education has stated that if the procedures for revising school regulations, including the medical school quota increase, are not implemented, administrative measures such as suspension of student recruitment will be taken.