South Korea Reveals Conditional Strategy to Abandon Medical School Admission Increase for 2026
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Synopsis
On March 7, the South Korean government declared a conditional plan to abandon an increase in medical school admissions for 2026 as a means to address the healthcare crisis, pending students' return to classrooms by the end of the month.
Key Takeaways
- Conditional plan to scrap medical school quota increase announced.
- Enrollment cap set at 3,058 for 2026.
- Implementation hinges on medical students returning to classes.
- Controversy arises from students' protests and boycotts.
- Government concerned about the impact on healthcare systems.
Seoul, March 7 (NationPress) The South Korean government announced on Friday its intention to conditionally abandon a controversial proposal to raise medical school admissions for the upcoming year as part of efforts to address the ongoing healthcare crisis.
Education Minister Lee Ju-ho declared that the medical school enrollment cap for 2026 will be set at 3,058, reverting to the previous figure before the government suggested an increase of 2,000 admissions last year, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Ju-ho noted that the enforcement of this adjusted quota is dependent on all medical students returning to classrooms by the end of this month. Medical students across the nation have been boycotting classes and taking leaves in protest against the government's proposed expansion of the medical school quota.
Last month, the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate School of Medicine, which represents medical school deans nationwide, indicated that they would encourage medical students to resume classes if the enrollment quota for next year is reverted to 3,058.
Additionally, the presidents of 40 universities with medical colleges convened online on Wednesday and presented the same proposal to the government.
"The government acknowledges the recommendation from the 40 university presidents, contingent upon all medical students returning to schools by the end of March," Lee stated during a news conference in Seoul.
The minister emphasized that the revised quota will be annulled if all medical students do not return this month.
This government decision arises amid fears of disruptions within the country’s healthcare system and medical education, should the ongoing strike by over 10,000 junior doctors persist.
