Ministry of Education "Efforts for Medical Students' Return by Early Next Month... Deadline February Next Year"

"End of May to Early June Limit? Still Some Room"
Investigation into Coerced Collective Action at 4 Universities
Official Letters Sent Proposing Communication with Individual Medical Students
Deadline for Failing Set at 'February 28 Next Year'

The government, having finalized the scale of medical school admissions expansion for next year, reiterated its commitment to making efforts to have medical students, who are still continuing collective actions such as taking leaves of absence, return to classes by early June.

On the 27th, Shim Min-cheol, Director of Talent Policy Planning at the Ministry of Education, responded at a regular briefing at the Government Complex Sejong to reporters' question, "Even if universities employ flexible academic operations, isn't it just a temporary measure if students do not return?" saying, "Some universities argue that even with flexible operations, there will be limits by 'late May to early June (5mal6cho)', but I believe there is still more leeway."

He said, "There are students who want to return but cannot due to pressure from their surroundings," and added, "We have expressed a stance to strictly punish such actions." According to the Ministry of Education on the same day, reports of coercion into collective actions were received from three universities as of the 24th, and investigations have been requested to the police. So far, a total of four universities have been referred to the police for investigations due to coercion into collective actions such as leaves of absence.

The Ministry of Education explained that it is making efforts to engage in dialogue with the medical students. Earlier, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, officially proposed dialogue to the Korean Medical Students Association (KMSA), a student organization representing 40 medical schools, but KMSA refused to engage in dialogue, stating that the government has not accepted any of the students' demands. In response, the Ministry of Education added that last week it sent official letters to five universities by region, stating that if there are students willing to participate, they are open to dialogue. Director Shim emphasized, "If we receive a response, we will meet with the students separately to persuade them."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He announced plans to take administrative measures such as correction orders against universities that do not revise their academic regulations by May 31.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it would not postpone the national medical licensing examination, and the Ministry of Education also explained that it will maintain the existing schedule for the exam. Instead, on the premise that each university operates flexible academic schedules, the deadline for deciding on failing grades is expected to be at the end of the semester or academic year. Director Shim said, "I consider February 28 next year as the final day of this year's curriculum," and added, "We need to work closely with universities to establish institutional measures to bring students back during the remaining period."

Regarding the proportion of schools conducting face-to-face classes, he explained, "We do not have detailed information on the class status of individual universities," and added, "You can assume that online classes are being conducted."