Ministry of Education: "Claim to Limit Medical School 'Regular Admission Carryover' is Legally Difficult"

Whether to Communicate with the Medical Community is "Under Review"

The Ministry of Education stated that the suggestion from some in the medical community to reduce the number of medical school admissions for the 2025 academic year by not transferring unfilled early admission slots to regular admissions is "legally difficult, according to the relevant department's opinion."

At a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 23rd, Ministry of Education spokesperson Koo Yeon-hee said, "We are already proceeding according to the announced laws and regulations, so it is difficult to change what has been publicly declared."

In response to the question, "If universities attempt to reduce admissions in regular recruitment or avoid transferring unfilled slots to regular admissions, does the Ministry of Education plan to take audit or disciplinary actions according to the law?" she replied, "I think it can be handled according to the usual government procedures," adding, "I will check on that."

Yonhap News

Regarding the statement made the previous day by Park Hyung-wook, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Korean Medical Association, that "the Ministry of Education and the Emergency Committee will meet on the 23rd," she said, "Nothing has been decided yet," and added, "We are currently consulting with related agencies to review how to proceed."

On the amendment to the Act on Support for Health and Medical Personnel, which centers on reducing medical school admissions, she emphasized, "There are parts that conflict with the Higher Education Act, so careful review is necessary," and added, "University quotas must follow the Higher Education Act, so conflicts may arise."