"Post 'Support' Comments for Medical School Expansion"... Controversy Over Yonsei University Health Administration Assignment

100-Minute Debate Panel Professor Jeong Hyeongseon Announces Assignment to Undergraduates
"To Win in the Public Opinion Battle"... Submitted Opinions Can Be Revised
Students Express Concerns About "Opinion Manipulation Through Hierarchy... Fear of Academic Disadvantage"

The Department of Health Administration at Yonsei University Mirae Campus is facing backlash from students after instructing them to "watch the MBC 100-Minute Debate broadcast and post comments on YouTube to win the public opinion battle, then submit it as an assignment." The broadcast discussed the current state of the domestic medical system, which is struggling due to recent emergency room crises, and explored solutions to the prolonged medical-government conflicts. Students expressed concerns that their right to freely express opinions was being violated and that there might be disadvantages in their grade evaluations.

A screenshot of a text notice sent to students of the Department of Health Administration at Yonsei University Mirae Campus. [Image source: Provided by reader]

According to the department and students on the 9th, Professor Jeong Hyeong-seon of the Department of Health Administration announced the assignment about six hours before the 'MBC 100-Minute Debate' aired at 11:20 PM on the 3rd. The assignment required students to "watch the broadcast (or after watching) write their opinions in the YouTube comments, then write their reflections on the debate and their views on current institutional issues, and submit them to the Runus assignment box."

Later, a teaching assistant (TA) A from the department issued an additional notice explaining, "Doctors are demanding the withdrawal of the 2025 medical school quota increase. They continue to make impossible claims while abandoning emergency room care, frightening the public and patients." The TA added, "I ask everyone, even briefly, to post their opinions in the YouTube comments above so that we do not lose the public opinion battle," and emphasized, "Please write your assignments mainly based on these comments, and if what you have already submitted does not meet this, please revise and resubmit."

Students argued that their right to freely express opinions was infringed upon and worried about potential disadvantages in grade evaluations. B, who identified themselves as a student of the department on Yonsei University Mirae Campus’s anonymous community, said, "This is an attempt to manipulate public opinion through hierarchy," and added, "Diverse views should be respected in the academic sanctuary." They further stated, "Students, including myself, are worried that refusing unfair instructions might negatively affect our grade evaluations."

The Department of Health Administration is a major where students learn planning, organization, management, evaluation, and policy development of health care services. After graduation, students mainly enter hospitals, research institutes, universities, and government agencies to perform health administration tasks.

The Department of Health Administration at Yonsei University explained that they did not force the submission of specific opinions as part of the class, and that the additional notice was a personal judgment by the TA. Professor Jeong told Asia Economy on the 9th, "The assignment was given as part of a medical workforce-related debate class. It is a recommended teaching method where students watch a video first, then express their opinions before the debate." He added, "Looking at the assignments submitted by students, the opinions are not one-sided but about half and half. We also plan to hold a debate during class today (the 9th)."

Regarding the TA’s notice, Professor Jeong said, "I heard that the TA, as a senior in health administration, added their own opinion while encouraging assignment submission. Regardless of what opinions are expressed, there will be no negative impact on grade evaluations."

Yonsei University Mirae Campus stated, "It seems to be a question about neutrality. After verifying the facts, the academic affairs department will discuss measures."