Ministry of Education Proposes Public Dialogue to Medical School Student Group... After 2 Months

"Discuss Timing, Topics, and Methods of Conversation with Students"

The Ministry of Education has proposed an open dialogue to medical students who have been refusing classes for nearly three months.

On the 21st, the Ministry announced that it would propose a dialogue to the 'Korean Medical Students Association (KMSA),' a student organization representing 40 medical schools. Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated, "Students, who are the future of our medical community, must be at the center of advancing medical education," and emphasized, "The government will listen to students' opinions with an open mind, without limiting the topics or methods."

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is delivering opening remarks at the "Medical School Operating Universities Presidents' Meeting" held on the 20th at the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Institute in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Previously, on March 11, the Ministry of Education also proposed an open dialogue to KMSA, but KMSA did not respond. A Ministry official said, "As in March, KMSA has not provided an official contact, so we are proposing dialogue through the media and requesting a reply to the Ministry of Education." The official added that the timing, topics, methods, and scale of participation will be decided after discussions with the students.

This dialogue proposal is interpreted as an effort to urge medical students to return to classes as the deadline, which the education sector predicts as a 'risk of failing the academic year,' approaches. According to the Ministry of Education, as of the previous day, classes have resumed at 37 out of 40 medical schools. Each university is also preparing flexible academic operation plans to allow students to continue their studies without disadvantages such as failing the year.

The Ministry of Education believes that if students do not return to classes now, when the government and universities are actively supporting their return, it will lead to overall deterioration in medical education and training conditions, which will restrict students' course attendance in the future.