KMA and Professors' Groups "Support Medical Students to Prevent Unfair Disadvantages"

Meeting on Current Issues Facing Medical Students
with the KMA, Association of Medical School Professors, and Medical Societies

As medical students continue to return to school, medical organizations such as the Korean Medical Association (KMA) have agreed to cooperate to protect medical students.

On the 1st, Yonhap News reported that a meeting was held with current and former presidents of the Korean Association of Medical School Professors (KAMS), the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation. At this meeting, the participants shared concerns regarding recent pressures on some medical schools to expel medical students and discussed ways to collaborate to protect students' rights.

Korean Medical Association. Yonhap News Agency

The KMA stated, "Medical students are prospective professionals responsible for the future of healthcare in the Republic of Korea, as well as citizens with freedom of expression and the right to education," adding, "The current difficulties should be understood not as futile resistance but as the voices of a younger generation contemplating better medical care."

They further explained that they are carefully investigating the facts regarding the possibility of academic disadvantages faced by some students and plan to provide necessary support in coordination with a legal advisory group to prevent any unfair disadvantages.

The KMA emphasized, "Education should be based on respect and communication, not authority," and added, "We will continue institutional efforts to protect students' autonomy and rights so that medical students can fully grow as subjects of scholarship and career paths."

They also stated, "We are with medical students now and in the future," and noted, "Professor group representatives recognize that schools are taking unreasonable actions due to government pressure. There was consensus on the need to restore trust between universities and students and to resolve issues through dialogue."

Meanwhile, as of the 31st, the deadline set by the government for the return of medical students who had refused classes, 39 out of 40 medical schools and graduate medical schools nationwide have effectively registered all their students (excluding military leave, etc.).

Earlier, the Ministry of Education announced, "If all medical students return by the end of March, the admission quota for medical schools in the 2026 academic year will be adjusted to 3,058 students." This number is about 1,500 fewer than the 2025 academic year admission quota (approximately 4,600 students).