55% of Medical Students Nationwide Submit Leave of Absence Applications... Valid Leave Requests Total 10,375

The number of medical students who have submitted leave of absence forms in protest against the government's policy to increase medical school quotas has risen by about 10 to a cumulative total of 10,375 compared to two days ago.

According to the Ministry of Education on the 7th, a survey conducted from the 5th to 6th of this month targeting 40 medical schools nationwide found that 10 students from 5 schools applied for valid leave of absence. This brings the cumulative number of valid leave applications to 10,375.

As of April last year, this means that 55.2% of medical students nationwide (18,793 students) have submitted leave of absence forms.

Photo by Yonhap News

Since most medical schools do not allow first-year students to submit leave of absence forms for the first semester, the proportion of medical students who actually can submit and have submitted leave forms is estimated to be even higher.

Valid leave applications are those submitted following the procedures stipulated by school regulations, such as parental consent and department head signatures.

The Ministry of Education maintains the position that 'solidarity leave' taken in protest against the increase in medical school quotas without following proper procedures should not be approved as leave. Therefore, the Ministry explains that there have been no cases of solidarity leave being approved.

During the same period, class boycotts were confirmed at 7 universities. If the class boycotts continue, students may face collective grade retention.

According to most medical school regulations, if a student is absent for one-third or one-quarter of the class days, they receive an F grade, and receiving an F grade in even one subject results in grade retention.

To prevent such situations, universities delayed the start of classes for clinical-year students from February, but some universities, including Kyungpook National University and Jeonbuk National University, decided to resume classes as they could no longer postpone the start.

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