Medical School Professors Welcome Students' Return... Promise Full Support for Their Studies

"Current Administration Must Develop Solutions"

Medical school professors welcomed the decision of their students, who had been away from school for about a year and a half, to return. They also stated that they would do their utmost to support the students in continuing their studies diligently.

The Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors nationwide issued a statement on July 13, saying, "We welcome the decision of medical students to return. After a long wait, we will warmly welcome the students back to the classroom."

Medical school professors issued a statement welcoming the decision of their students, who had been away from school for nearly a year and a half, to return. Yonhap News

The professors' group stated, "The difficulties experienced in medical education and the healthcare field during this period were the result of the previous administration's irrational and excessive policy initiatives." They emphasized, "Now, it is time for the current administration, the National Assembly, and the medical community to come together to develop practical and sustainable solutions."

They also added, "We deeply agree with the National Assembly's recommendations to the President and the government regarding the normalization of education and the request to establish a continuous consultation structure." They further stated, "We believe this is the minimum starting point for normalizing medical education and the healthcare system."

The Korean Medical Student Association (KMSA), a group representing medical students, released a statement the previous day together with the National Assembly's standing committee and the Korean Medical Association, saying, "We will trust the National Assembly and the government, and with all students returning to school, we will do our best to restore normalcy to medical school education and the healthcare system."

The KMSA's decision to return comes about one year and five months after they began a "collective leave of absence" in February last year in protest against the government's plan to increase the medical school quota by 2,000 students.