Uichonghyeop Returns Leave Requests from 35 Medical Schools... "Half of Yonsei and Korea University Medical Students Return"

Policy Maintained:
"Students Who Do Not Submit Reinstatement Applications Will Be Expelled"

Amid ongoing conflicts in the medical community, it has been reported that a significant number of current students at Yonsei University and Korea University College of Medicine have applied for reinstatement.

According to the medical sector on the 22nd, about 300 out of approximately 700 students at Yonsei University College of Medicine (Sinchon and Mirae campuses) applied for reinstatement by the deadline the previous day. On the same day, Korea University College of Medicine, which also closed its reinstatement application, reportedly received a similar number of applications as Yonsei University. Initially, Korea University extended the registration deadline from 4 PM to 11:59 PM, which is believed to have led to many students deciding to return at the last minute.

Kyungpook National University also kept its related online system open until 11:59 PM to accept students' reinstatement applications. It is reported that Kyungpook National University held an emergency meeting for pre-medical students that morning to encourage their return.

However, the universities did not disclose the exact number of reinstatement applications. This follows an agreement between the universities and the Ministry of Education not to reveal the number of returning students. The purpose is to minimize the impact on other universities and to prevent attacks on returnees if the number of returning students is not large.

The universities maintain their policy to expel students who do not submit reinstatement applications by the deadline as planned. The 'Council of Presidents for the Advancement of Medical Colleges' (의총협), a meeting of presidents from 40 universities with medical schools, announced that they have rejected the leave of absence applications from medical students at 35 universities. The remaining five universities are expected to notify students next week that their leave of absence applications will be rejected or not approved after going through procedures.

The government also plans to verify whether students who submitted reinstatement applications actually attend classes. Although there have been concerns that students might continue their collective leave of absence by 'registering but refusing to attend classes,' in such cases, they would inevitably face failure or academic warnings due to lack of attendance.

The government stated that there will be no separate measures such as 'academic flexibility' this year. It announced that if all medical students return by the end of March, the medical school quota for the 2025 academic year will be maintained at the existing 3,058 students. However, if the return is not completed, the increased quota of 5,058 students will be maintained starting from the 2026 academic year.

Meanwhile, the Korea Medical Association (KMA), which had led the hardline struggle in the medical community for over a year, appeared to have softened its stance. On the 20th, the KMA stated, "If expulsion becomes a reality (at universities), we will take the lead in fighting to protect medical students," but also said, "Please ask yourselves and answer before making a judgment. We will respect each individual's decision."