Chosun Ilbo Reports: Former Korea University Student Representatives Issue Apology
On the 25th, They Stated, "Medical Students Wishing to Return Should Be Respected"
Re-enrollment Counseling Followed, but Apology Issued After Internal Criticism
Former student representatives of Korea University College of Medicine issued a statement saying that "the intentions of medical students who wish to return should also be respected," but reportedly apologized within two days due to internal criticism. On the 27th, Chosun Ilbo reported that "the five former student representatives of Korea University College of Medicine said in an apology posted the previous day, 'We apologize for making our fellow students even more anxious.'"
According to Chosun Ilbo, they stated in their position paper on the 25th, "Monitoring and criticizing each other does not help resolve this situation," and "Medical students should be fully guaranteed the freedom to decide their own whereabouts without unnecessary scrutiny." This was in the context of the approaching deadline set by the university for medical students to return, emphasizing the need to respect those who wish to return to school.
After such opinions were expressed by the former student representatives, it is reported that students subject to expulsion began applying for re-enrollment counseling. Lee Jong-tae, director of the Korean Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC), told Yonhap News on the same day, "As of the 21st, Korea University had a registration rate below 50%, but I understand it has now increased to about 80%."
However, those who issued the statement were criticized by medical students. On 'MediStaff,' an anonymous community for doctors and medical students, posts mocking them as the "Korea University Medical Five Traitors" were reportedly posted.
Eventually, they issued an apology within two days, stating, "We hoped to be a group that respects fellow students who make genuinely different choices and issued our opinion accordingly, but separately, we feel remorse for having acted beyond our rights," and "We wanted to convey the need for realistic consideration of expulsion, but we apologize that this instead led to putting the majority of students at greater risk."
At Seoul National University and Yonsei University, medical students are also showing signs of trying to avoid expulsion by registering and continuing their protests. On the 27th, the Seoul National University College of Medicine Medical-Government Conflict Response Task Force (TF) announced, "Please complete the registration process. Guidelines on the direction of protests after registration will be provided soon." Seoul National University College of Medicine closed registration at 5 p.m. that day.
The Yonsei University College of Medicine Student Emergency Situation Response Committee also announced, "The method of taking a leave of absence for the first semester will be changed to a registered leave of absence." The number of Yonsei University medical students who expressed their intention to register reportedly increased from about 55% initially to around 80% on that day. However, medical students at universities other than Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University are still refusing to register, and universities are making efforts to persuade them until the last moment.
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