[The Era of Medical Student Cartels]② The Strengthened Sense of Privilege Within the 'Medical School Black Hole'

Editor's NoteSince February last year, residents who left hospitals in protest against the government's medical school expansion policy have not returned for two years. Medical students who followed their seniors in boycotting classes and taking collective leave of absence have largely accepted the formality of returning in response to warnings from the government and universities about failing or expulsion, but the possibility remains that they will continue their struggle through re-leaves and class boycotts. Even if the medical school scene appears to be barely normalized, the collective nature of medical students and the aftereffects of their influence are unlikely to fade easily. Asia Economy analyzes in six parts how and why they can unite so tightly like a 'cartel.'

On the afternoon of the 26th of last month, about 40 people gathered at a '2026 Medical and Pharmacy School Transfer Information Session' held at an academy in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Despite being a weekday afternoon, attendees ranged from young professionals in their 30s to students in their early 20s who still looked like fresh university entrants. The main topic of the session was whether the transfer quota to medical schools might increase due to the recent collective leave of absence by medical students.

The head of the academy, who gave a lecture, said, "From preliminary surveys, many of those attending today are already enrolled in medical-related departments (dentistry, pharmacy, Korean medicine, veterinary medicine)," and avoided a direct answer by adding, "The scale of transfer admissions will be determined only after the policy direction regarding the return and expulsion of medical students is clearly decided." Another lecturer at the session predicted, "Many medical students have already transferred to top medical schools this year, so the transfer quota is expected to increase compared to previous years," and added, "Medical schools like Yonsei University, which had not accepted any transfer students since the 2000s, may now open transfer admissions."

On the 20th of last month, a banner related to medical school entrance exams was displayed in the academy district of Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The phrase that summarizes the reality of education in South Korea is 'Medical School Republic.' With the top science students nationwide, from rank 1 to 3058, filling all medical schools from Seoul National University to Jeju National University, the increase of 1,500 medical school seats led to an unprecedented influx of repeat test-takers for the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). As a result, science and engineering departments were hit hard by the medical school craze. There was a surge in dropouts at Seoul National University and KAIST, and working adults who had long graduated flocked to night and weekend medical school preparatory academies.

It is estimated that even medical students who took collective leave in protest of the medical school expansion policy have succeeded in transferring to medical schools in Seoul or SKY universities. According to data received by Jin Sun-mi, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Ministry of Education, 389 medical students dropped out mid-course from 40 medical schools nationwide between March last year and February this year, accounting for 13% of the annual medical school quota (3,058 students).

Since the Ministry of Education prevented failing and expulsion of medical students last year, most of these cases are interpreted as voluntary withdrawals. Lim Sung-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, pointed out, "The fact that nearly 400 medical students dropped out mid-course means that although the expansion was focused on regional medical schools to strengthen local healthcare, even existing medical students have gravitated back to the metropolitan area," and added, "The sudden medical school expansion policy is shaking the entire admissions market from the new student enrollment stage to transfer admissions."

A professor at a metropolitan university who requested anonymity also criticized, "Medical students opposed the expansion but turned the unprecedented chaotic situation caused by it into an opportunity for social mobility through retaking exams."

On the 20th of last month, students who finished their school classes are moving in the academy district of Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

From Kindergarten to Medical School Entrance Exams Driven by High-Income Professional Expectations

This year, dormitory academies run by large entrance exam academies are thriving with 'medical school sections' that only accept top-tier science repeat test-takers. The 'elementary school medical school admission class' that started in the Daechi-dong academy district is increasing in number, and the recent trend of the '7-year-old exam' is also linked to this 'medical school craze.'

The biggest reason doctors have become a coveted profession in our society is that, compared to any other occupation, economic rewards are certain and the future is stable. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the average annual salary of doctors was 301 million KRW in 2022; National Tax Service data shows doctors' average annual business income at 400 million KRW; and last year, the Health and Medical Workers' Union disclosed doctors' salaries ranging from 400 million to 600 million KRW.

The moment one obtains a medical license, worries about employment disappear, one can work for life without retirement age limits, a guaranteed income floor (minimum salary) exists, and popular specialists in private practice can expect tens of billions of KRW in high income annually. These factors have intensified the concentration on medical schools. The sense of mission and fulfillment in saving lives and social respect have become secondary reasons.

Because of this, more people want to become doctors, and parents want their children to become doctors. Experts diagnose that students who have set their future goal as a doctor since middle and high school are treated as top talents guaranteed a high-income professional status the moment they succeed in medical school entrance exams, and even before obtaining a medical license, they become immersed in the unique culture of medical schools that identifies themselves with the medical community.

The head of an entrance exam academy in Daechi-dong said, "Even students who are somewhat smart start advanced math and science studies from elementary school to get into medical school, and in middle school, they collect various awards and maintain their school records to enter specialized high schools or achieve near-perfect grades and CSAT scores in general high schools. This process is tightly packed without a moment's rest. Parents also spend millions of KRW monthly on private education, shuttling their children from one academy to another, so they naturally expect a return on their efforts when their children succeed in admissions."

He added, "The moment medical students receive their acceptance letters, even if they start tutoring part-time jobs, their hourly wage is twice that of general students at Seoul National University," and questioned, "In a society where everyone admires doctors, medical students inevitably feel proud as if they have already become doctors, considering themselves part of the elite professional class unless something very unusual happens."

An entrance of an academy located in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, has a recruitment notice for the 'Seoul National University Pre-Medical Class' targeting elementary school students. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

From Rank 1 to 3058, All Apply to Medical Schools

The collective action of medical students opposing the expansion also partly revealed the sense of privilege and reward psychology cultivated in these prospective doctors.

A medical student A from the Chungcheong region said, "Looking at my friends, many entered medical school because they wanted a stable job and career," and confessed, "The current opposition of medical students to essential medical packages reflects their fear that the social and economic status doctors currently enjoy may not be guaranteed in the future."

B, a medical student on leave from a metropolitan medical school, said, "I originally considered engineering but thought it was a waste to go to engineering with grades that could get me into medical school, so I entered medical school. However, I cannot accept the sudden deterioration in doctors' treatment and medical environment," and added, "Since the best elites becoming doctors have dramatically advanced our country's medical standards, changing this could mean accepting a decline in medical quality and standards."

However, since this medical-government conflict started with the government's controversial expansion policy, there are also warnings against demonizing the opposition of medical students and residents as collective selfishness.

Lee Deok-hwan, emeritus professor of chemistry at Sogang University, analyzed, "In the process of pushing through a flawed policy (medical reform), the government tried to shift responsibility by neutralizing the activities of medical student councils opposing it and restricting their right to take leave," and added, "By eliminating the students' focal point to freely gather, discuss, and find solutions, only the voices of some hardline students grew louder, resulting in them representing the whole."