Yonsei and Korea University Medical Students Face Expulsion Risk... Ongoing Re-enrollment Consultations

Yonsei and Korea University Medical Schools to Complete Expulsion Procedures by the 28th
Both Universities to Offer Counseling to Unregistered Medical Students Before Finalizing Expulsion

Concerns about expulsion of medical students who have not returned to school are becoming a reality, causing unrest among the students. They are applying for counseling to return to school, and some are discussing changing their protest methods to include taking a leave of absence after registration.

On the 21st, the deadline set by some medical schools including Yonsei University, Korea University, and Kyungpook National University for returning approached, and a student was seen moving at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

According to the medical community on the 27th, about 40% of Yonsei University medical students and about half of Korea University medical students have not registered by the deadline.

Accordingly, Yonsei University and Korea University, whose registration deadlines have already passed, plan to notify unregistered medical students of their expulsion. Korea University College of Medicine plans to complete the expulsion process by the 28th for students who have not registered or applied for reinstatement. Yonsei University College of Medicine also notified unregistered students on the evening of the 25th that they will be expelled on the 28th.

However, both universities intend to offer counseling to unregistered medical students before finalizing expulsion. Yonsei University College of Medicine has announced that applications for 'explanation before expulsion notice' or 'reinstatement counseling' are possible until the 27th. Korea University College of Medicine will also conduct interviews with unregistered medical students starting on the 27th. It is reported that more than 200 students have applied for these interviews.

Meanwhile, discussions about changing protest methods are underway among medical students. The Yonsei University College of Medicine Emergency Situation Response Committee decided after internal discussions the day before to switch the leave of absence method for the first semester of this year to 'registration leave of absence' and announced this.

Earlier, Choi Jae-young, Dean of Yonsei University College of Medicine, also sent a message on the same day saying, "I will listen to the precious voices of students and parents. I will be waiting for you at the dean's office until the 27th." It is also known that he recently distributed leaflets to some advisors asking them to persuade students to return as much as possible and to encourage students who do not wish to return to register and then take a leave of absence.

The Seoul National University College of Medicine Student Council, whose return deadline is also the 27th, has been conducting a vote on registration status among all students since the previous night. The vote will close this morning, and depending on the results, Seoul National University may also change its protest methods.