[Exclusive] Medical Students' Collective Action Enters 9th Month... Ministry of Education Plans to Establish 'Medical School Bureau'

Promotion of Separate Establishment of Dedicated Medical School Bureau
Focused Management with 'Medical School Collective Action Response TF'
Ministry of Education Emphasizes Normalization of Medical School Education

As the collective action of medical students opposing the 'increase in medical school quotas' continues into its ninth month, the Ministry of Education plans to establish a new 'Medical School Bureau (tentative name)' starting next year for focused management. The ministry intends to separate the medical school-related responses, currently handled by two bureaus, into a dedicated bureau.

A Ministry of Education official stated in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 29th, "We plan to create a separate task force dedicated to medical schools as of January 1 next year," adding, "We will establish a new bureau."

Currently, tasks related to medical school operations and academic management measures due to collective actions are handled by the Talent Policy Planning Bureau and the Regional Talent Policy Bureau under the Talent Policy Office. However, as issues related to universities, such as university admissions and the recent Yonsei University essay leak incident, have occurred consecutively, causing overlapping duties, the ministry decided to create a separate bureau solely dedicated to medical school matters.

Earlier, as medical students did not return to classes for several months, the Ministry of Education proposed approving medical students' leaves of absence through an 'Emergency Measures for Normalizing Medical School Academics' last month. Additionally, they announced plans to grant priority in course registration and class division to new students for the 2025 academic year and to prepare measures to protect the learning rights of returning students. Furthermore, with the increase in new students starting next year, there is a need for additional faculty, equipment, and clinical practice space, requiring more management personnel. Approximately 606.2 billion KRW is planned to be invested in the related budget next year alone.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is announcing the flexible operation guidelines for medical school academics on the 10th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

A Ministry of Education official explained, "If medical students return next year, we need to open curricula and monitor facilities and faculty to ensure proper education at universities," adding, "An organization dedicated solely to supporting the normalization of medical education is necessary." Once the new bureau is established, organizational restructuring, including appointing a bureau chief, is expected.

Moreover, the Ministry of Education plans changes at the task force (TF) level to intensify responses to the medical students' collective action. The 'Medical School Issue Response TF,' which has been operating since the end of February, was created under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Education Oh Seok-hwan to establish a response system for students' leaves of absence, class refusals, and quota applications following the quota increase announcement. This TF will be renamed the 'Medical School Collective Action Response TF' and will focus on intensive response efforts. Starting next year, this TF will be integrated under the Medical School Bureau.

So far, the Ministry of Education has focused on responding to the medical students' collective actions. Last month, it launched a high-intensity audit on Seoul National University College of Medicine, which approved collective leaves of absence without following the then-government policy. Earlier, on the 25th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho expressed his commitment to normalizing medical education on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' stating, "If an agreement is reached with the medical community, all the students will return."