Statement Released Regarding Some Students' Distrust of Government's Freeze Promise
Deans of medical schools nationwide appealed to students to return, stating they will "definitely uphold the frozen 3,058 medical school admissions quota for the 2026 academic year." They emphasized that a significant number of students are returning.
On the 21st, the Korea Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC), a gathering of deans from 40 medical schools nationwide, issued a statement titled "To All Medical Students Nationwide."
The Korea University College of Medicine on the 21st, the final deadline for registration and re-enrollment applications for its students. The school plans to proceed according to the academic regulations in principle this year regarding the academic schedule, number of class days, attendance, and grade evaluation for all grades. Photo by Yonhap News
In their letter, the deans stated, "We will definitely uphold the 3,058 medical school admissions quota for next year, and the 40 universities are preparing to provide students with quality education. However, all of this will be realized only when you return to school." This appears to be a response to some medical students who do not trust the government's promise to freeze medical school admissions without increase upon return.
They requested students not to make wrong judgments or actions based on unverified information circulating among medical students or erroneous media reports. They also clarified, "All procedures related to registration and re-enrollment applications are proceeding as scheduled, and reports of (registration) delays are entirely false."
In particular, they promised, "At universities where registration closes on the 21st, there is a meaningful shift in registration and re-enrollment trends, with a significant number of students returning," and pledged to "thoroughly protect returning students." Lee Jong-tae, KAMC chairman, said regarding the "significant number of students returning," that this information was "collected from each university" and that "(detailed information) cannot be disclosed to protect returning students."
The final registration and re-enrollment application deadline for medical students at Korea University, Yonsei University, and Kyungpook National University is on the 21st. A view of Korea University College of Medicine. The school plans to proceed according to the academic regulations in principle this year regarding the academic schedule, number of class days, attendance, and grade evaluation for all grades. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, on the 11th, Pyun Seong-beom, dean of Korea University College of Medicine, extended the final registration and re-enrollment application deadline from the 13th to the 21st of this month. He stated, "This year, academic schedules, class days, attendance, and grade evaluations for all grades will proceed according to the academic regulations and principles." Korea University accepts tuition payments until 4 p.m. on the day and re-enrollment applications until the 26th.
Yonsei University College of Medicine warned the premedical class of 2024 on the previous day, stating, "For the class of 2024, re-admission is absolutely impossible if expelled, so please decide carefully whether to register."
Kyungpook National University President Heo Young-woo also notified medical students on the 13th via a home correspondence letter that "those whose leave of absence ended at the end of the second semester last year (February 28, 2025) must apply for re-enrollment by the 21st." Kyungpook National University plans to proceed with expulsion notification for non-re-enrolled students if they do not apply by the night of the 21st.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Medical School Professors (Jeonui-gyo-hyeop), a medical faculty organization, criticized the actions of university administrations and the government. In a statement that day, they said, "Leave of absence and re-enrollment are personal matters of the students involved, and no application or approval should be forced by external pressure," condemning the university's agreement to "immediately reject medical students' leave of absence requests" as "an uneducational act."
The Korean Medical Students Association (KMSA), a medical student organization, issued a joint statement the previous day signed by representatives of 40 medical schools and medical graduate schools, stating, "Legally submitted leave of absence applications remain valid," and "students have the right to apply for leave of absence according to their academic plans and circumstances." They emphasized, "If any specific unit or even a particular grade within a unit is subjected to unfair treatment during the leave of absence processing, we will take all possible measures, including litigation, to protect members' rights."
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