Ministry of Education "Strict Response to Collective Bullying of Returning Medical Students"

"Dissemination of Returning Medical Students' Personal Information and Infringement of Learning Rights
Should Be Addressed According to School Regulations"

The Ministry of Education has requested strict action according to school regulations if any lists of students from 40 medical schools nationwide (including one medical graduate school) who have expressed their intention to return to classes or have already returned are distributed.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Education announced that following the recent police investigation request due to the distribution of so-called "blacklists" containing the real names of returning medical students on doctor communities such as 'Medistep', it has also ordered strict responses from medical schools nationwide.

The Ministry stated, "Personal information of students wishing to return or who have returned to classes at Seoul National University and Inje University was distributed, leading to a police investigation request on the 22nd. The Cyber Investigation Division of the National Police Agency reported that two individuals were arrested and 30 were sent to prosecution without detention, and that they plan to conduct a strict investigation into online group bullying."

Additionally, the Ministry of Education requested each university to guide students facing difficulties returning to classes to actively utilize the 'Medical School Student Protection and Reporting Center.'

Previously, when about 70 students returned to classes at Seoul National University College of Medicine, their names were distributed in some doctor communities. A blacklist of Inje University medical students was also circulated, reportedly causing some to ultimately give up on returning to school.