[Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment] Medical School Expansion and AI Textbooks Back in Uncertainty

'Quota Frozen at 3,058 Upon Medical Students' Return' Policy Maintained for Now
Early Presidential Election Could Spark Calls for Withdrawal of Medical School Quota Increase
AI Textbooks and Free High School Education Also Likely to Be Reconsidered

With the dismissal of former President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 4th, the government's pushed education policies such as the expansion of medical school quotas and AI digital textbooks have also been thrown into turmoil. In particular, following the government's policy to increase medical school quotas by 2,000 students, the quota was raised from 3,058 to 4,567 last year, an increase of 1,509 students. However, if an early presidential election phase begins, there is a possibility of a full review. The AI digital textbook and free high school education bills, which the government exercised its re-request right (veto) on last December, are also expected to be reconsidered.

◆ Medical Students' Return and Academic Normalization: 'Quota Frozen at 3,058'... "Proceeding Without Changes"

Medical education, which has faced disruptions for over a year, is currently undergoing normalization. Medical students, who opposed the government's announcement to increase medical school quotas in February last year, collectively took a leave of absence and have refused classes until now. However, after the Ministry of Education promised earlier this year that if all medical students returned by the end of March, the medical school admission quota for the 2026 academic year would be frozen at 3,058, nearly all students from 40 medical schools nationwide have returned. Class participation rates are also increasing, and the Ministry of Education views this as the beginning of the normalization of medical education.

The Ministry of Education stated that it will finalize next year's medical school admission quota around mid to late this month based on class participation status, and there has been no change in this stance so far. A Ministry of Education official said, "For now, it is important that medical students return and participate normally in classes," adding, "We will focus on encouraging them to attend regular classes."

However, some medical students who registered by the government's set return deadline to avoid expulsion have expressed intentions to continue their protests, raising the possibility that the early presidential election phase could bring demands for a full review of the medical school quota increase. If this happens, the medical school quota expansion, which the Yoon administration has endured 'medical-government conflicts' over for the past year, may face further ups and downs.

◆ AI Textbooks and Free High School Education: Passed by National Assembly → Veto → Reconsideration?

The status of the 'AI digital textbook,' one of the Yoon administration's representative education reforms, has also become precarious again.

At the end of last year, the National Assembly passed a partial amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that downgraded AI textbooks from 'textbooks' to 'educational materials,' meaning they were only to be used as educational resources. However, the government exercised its re-request right (veto), and the status was elevated back to 'textbooks.'

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, had planned to fully introduce AI textbooks this year but allowed schools to choose voluntarily considering opposition from the field. AI textbooks are currently being introduced for some subjects in 3rd and 4th grades of elementary school, 1st grade of middle school, and 1st grade of high school, but the adoption rate for the first semester remained in the 30% range. The Ministry of Education plans to accept additional applications for the second semester.

The free high school education, whose implementation was postponed due to the government's veto, is also expected to be discussed again. The opposition party led the passage of the Local Education Finance Grant Act amendment for free high school education earlier this year, but the government exercised its veto citing budget shortages.