Ministry of Education Operates Report Center for Medical Students 'Forced Collective Action'

Operation of Reporting Center from the 26th
Reports Allowed from Students' Acquaintances as Well

The Ministry of Education will operate a reporting center to receive cases of medical school students being forced to participate in collective actions and other damages.

The Ministry of Education announced that from the 26th, it will operate the 'Medical School Student Protection and Reporting Center.' The reporting center was established to protect students who wish to return to classes but hesitate due to coercion, threats, or concerns about tangible or intangible disadvantages from individuals or groups, as well as students who face difficulties for similar reasons after returning to classes.

A medical school in Seoul on the 20th, when the results of the increased medical school admission quota distribution, which triggered conflicts between the medical community and the government, were announced. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Previously, during the process where medical students protested the government's expansion of medical school quotas by engaging in a 'strike of alliance' (dongmaenghyuhak), posts appeared warning of disadvantages to students who did not submit leave of absence forms. This was a form of 'coercion and threats.'

The Ministry of Education emphasized that the reporting center does not require personal information of the reporter as a mandatory item during the reporting process, and even when personal information collection is necessary for protective measures, it will be managed to prevent identity exposure without the consent of the individual.

Students experiencing difficulties can contact the reporting center directly, or people around the student can contact the center to request protection. Anyone can report coercion or threats occurring online or elsewhere. Reports can be made via phone calls, text messages (weekdays, 9 AM to 8 PM), or email.

Along with operating the reporting center, the Ministry of Education plans to request each university to prepare measures to protect the learning rights of students wishing to return to classes and implement them. For cases reported to the Medical School Student Protection and Reporting Center, support and protective measures such as psychological counseling, improvements in class operations, and follow-up management will be promoted in cooperation with universities, considering the reporter's requests. In cases suspected of coercion or threats against students, the Ministry plans to respond strongly through police investigation requests and protective measures.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated, "I hope medical school students experiencing difficulties will actively contact the Medical School Student Protection and Reporting Center to request protection and report damage cases," and added, "We will do our best to protect and support students so that they can return to classes without anxiety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.