Acting President Lee Jooho Reiterates "No Withdrawal of Finalized Academic Probation or Expulsion," Urges Students to Return

No Further Academic Flexibility Confirmed
"We Will Support Transfer Admissions to Fill Vacancies"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Jooho, currently serving as Acting President, reiterated his call for medical students to return to classes, stating that once the deadline for academic probation or expulsion has passed, there will be no further means of relief.

Yonhap News

On May 5, through a statement titled "Message to Students Regarding the 2025 Academic Year in Medical Schools," Lee said, "There are incorrect claims circulating among some medical students, and I wish to correct them." He added, "Each university will confirm the students subject to academic probation or expulsion by the 7th and handle the matter according to the rules," emphasizing, "Decisions on academic probation or expulsion, once finalized, will not be withdrawn or canceled."

Currently, the government has requested that each medical school submit the status of academic probation and expulsion decisions by May 7. Amid this, some medical students have been claiming that it is impossible for individual universities to enforce academic probation or expulsion on a large scale, or that even if students are placed on academic probation or expelled, they could later return through academic flexibility measures.

To correct these claims, Acting President Lee stated, "I would like to reaffirm that there will be no additional academic flexibility measures," and emphasized, "If vacancies occur due to expulsion or other reasons resulting from failure to return, the government will support each university in smoothly conducting transfer admissions to fill those vacancies."

He continued, "On the 7th, the final list of students eligible for education in the 2025 academic year will be confirmed, and the government will now work closely with universities to ensure that returning students can receive normal education, making every effort to support classes and protect students."

He further stressed, "I urge those students who are still hesitating to return not to risk their valuable future as medical professionals based on unverified rumors."