Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Meeting Amid Doctors' Collective Action
Medical Students' Return Deadline Approaches Starting from the 21st
As the deadline for medical students to return approaches starting from the 21st, the government continues to send messages urging the medical students who are refusing to attend classes to 'come back.'
On the morning of the 20th, Lee Hangyeong, the 2nd General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), presided over a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures meeting at the Government Complex Sejong. Lee stated, "A large-scale leave of absence application disrupts the normal academic operation of universities and worsens educational conditions," adding, "Therefore, I reiterate that if the refusal to attend classes continues, we will have no choice but to respond strictly according to the school regulations." He further added, "As the deadline for returning based on the number of class days approaches, I hope medical students will make a rational decision for their dreams and the future development of medical care."
He also emphasized the government's determination to complete medical reform. Referring to the previous day's Medical Reform Special Committee meeting where topics such as non-reimbursable expenses, improvements to indemnity insurance, and the establishment of a medical accident safety net were discussed, Lee said, "The government will firmly implement medical reform tasks such as strengthening regional and essential medical care and creating a medical environment where frontline medical staff can take pride, for the new future of Korean healthcare."
Earlier, the Ministry of Education and the associations of medical school presidents and deans decided to restore the number of medical school admissions for the 2026 academic year to the 2024 level of 3,058, on the premise that medical students return. Unlike last year, the Ministry of Education is firmly maintaining its stance that it will not approve collective leaves of absence by medical students this year. The Council of Deans for the Advancement of Medical Schools (Uchonghyeop), composed of presidents from 40 medical schools, also agreed in a meeting the previous day to reject all leave of absence applications submitted by medical students by the 21st.
However, medical students are still refusing to attend classes. They oppose the government's 'Essential Medical Package' and believe that even if they return, it will be difficult to receive proper education. Lee Seonwoo, the emergency committee chairperson of the Korean Medical School and Medical Graduate Student Association, said on MBC Radio the previous day, "Most students think it will be difficult to receive education even if they return," adding, "From the students' perspective, the biggest problem is that they could find themselves in a state of 'ignorance of ignorance,' not even knowing what they have learned (even if they return)."
If students do not return or register by the point that accounts for one-quarter of the entire academic schedule, a 'large-scale failure' situation could occur. The registration deadlines start on the 21st for Korea University, Yonsei University, and Kyungpook National University, and most other universities have set return deadlines by the end of this month.
Some medical school professors have expressed opposition to the Ministry of Education's policy of 'not approving leaves of absence.' The Yonsei University Medical School Emergency Committee of Professors stated in a press release that day, "Yonsei Medical School professors support the legitimate exercise of students' rights through normal general leave of absence and will ensure that no unfair disadvantages occur," adding, "The government should face the threat to public health caused by the collapse of Korean medical care with a fearful heart and respect the students' legitimate decisions by canceling unfair orders."
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