Medical Professors: "Presidential Office and Government's Denial of Leave of Absence Approval is Unconstitutional"

"Medical Students' Leave of Absence Requests Must Be Approved Immediately"

Medical school professor organizations criticized the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Education's stance that medical students' leaves of absence should not be approved as unconstitutional.

The National Association of Medical School Professors and the Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors nationwide issued a joint statement on the 5th expressing this view.

These organizations stated, "The Presidential Office and the Ministry of Education's directive to refuse approval of leaves of absence is an unconstitutional administrative guidance that undermines the precious values of liberal democracy," and urged, "University presidents must immediately approve medical students' leave of absence applications."

They pointed out, "Specific requirements related to leaves of absence are determined by each university's academic regulations," and added, "Leaves of absence can be applied for based on personal circumstances or other unavoidable reasons according to individual free will, and there is no regulation that prohibits granting leave just because many students apply."

Furthermore, they said, "The presidents of the 40 medical schools who do not approve leaves of absence are succumbing to the Ministry of Education's unjust administrative guidance and abandoning the exercise of the university's autonomous authority," adding, "If leaves of absence are not approved, students may suffer from failing grades or expulsion."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They also expressed concern, saying, "Even if students start attending classes, it must now be acknowledged that normal education is impossible given the remaining schedule," and "If poor medical education produces incompetent doctors, the damage will inevitably be passed on to the public."

After Seoul National University College of Medicine became the first in the nation to approve a collective leave of absence for medical students, and as signs of leave spreading to other medical schools appeared, the Ministry of Education held an online 'National Medical School Presidents' Council' with the presidents of 40 medical schools nationwide the day before.

At this meeting, the Ministry of Education requested universities once again to cooperate in not approving large-scale collective leaves of absence, stating that strike leaves are difficult to consider as legitimate reasons for leave.

Also, Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, stated on a radio broadcast the day before, "The bowstring has already been released in effect," indicating that the increase in enrollment quotas for the 2025 academic year cannot be reversed.