Deadline for South Korean Medical Students to Resume Classes Approaches

Synopsis

The South Korean government has set a deadline for medical students nationwide to return from a yearlong absence, expiring on Monday. Major universities report a high rate of students ready to resume their studies, following government measures and faculty persuasion.

Key Takeaways

Government deadline for medical students to return is Monday.
Most students at major medical schools in South Korea are resuming classes.
Quota for medical school admissions set at 3,058 for 2026.
Consequences for non-compliance include expulsion threats.
Data will be collected on returning students before finalizing quotas.

Seoul, March 31 (NationPress) The government's deadline for all medical students across the nation to return to classes after a yearlong leave of absence will expire on Monday. Most students at prominent medical universities in South Korea have already made the decision to continue their education.

This deadline, set for March 31, was established by the government earlier this month when it revealed a conditional enrollment quota of 3,058 for medical schools in 2026. This number mirrors the quota before the government proposed an increase of 2,000 admissions a year ago to combat a persistent shortage of doctors, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

The updated quota is contingent on the return of all medical students who have been boycotting classes and taking collective leaves in opposition to the expansion of the medical school quota.

Initially, medical students responded negatively to the government's proposal. However, their stance has shifted due to the sincere persuasion of their professors and the strict measures imposed by medical schools, including threats of expulsion for those who do not comply with the deadline.

With the exception of Kangwon National University and Jeonbuk National University, which have extended their deadlines to early to mid-April, 38 medical schools across the country are scheduled to conclude their course registration by Monday.

Students from all major universities, such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Catholic University of Korea, University of Ulsan, Pusan National University, and Chungnam National University, have already resolved to return to their studies.

The Ministry of Education will gather data on the number of returning medical students before finalizing next year's enrollment quota.

Officials from the ministry and schools anticipate that, based on the current return rates, the number of medical school admissions will likely be set at 3,058 for the upcoming year. Should students choose to take leave again or boycott classes after returning, the enrollment quota may revert to 5,058, they warned.