Ministry of Education to Announce 'Medical Students' Return to Classes Plan' This Week... Expert Roundtable in the Afternoon

As a result of last week's discussion with the Council of University Presidents
communication with medical students was not successful
today afternoon, through informal talks with professors
discussing advanced medical education plans to be announced in September

As medical students continue their prolonged class boycott in protest against the 'increase in medical school quotas,' the Ministry of Education will announce measures for the students' return to classes within this week.

At a regular briefing held on the morning of the 10th at the Government Complex Sejong, Ministry of Education spokesperson Koo Yeon-hee stated, "We agreed with the University Presidents' Council to make every effort to facilitate the return of medical students," revealing this plan.

Earlier, on the 7th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho held the 'University Presidents' Council for Medical Advancement' and met with university presidents to discuss plans for the return of medical students. The meeting was attended by six university presidents, including Hong Won-hwa, president of Kyungpook National University and chairman of the Korean Medical School Students Association, Jo Myung-woo of Inha University, Lee Hae-woo of Dong-A University, Choi Ki-joo of Ajou University, Park Sung-tae of Wonkwang University, and Yang Oh-bong of Jeonbuk National University. Based on the discussions from this meeting, the Ministry of Education plans to announce measures for the medical students' return to classes within this week.

However, there has been no progress in communication with the medical students. Spokesperson Koo explained, "We proposed open dialogue to the Korean Medical School Students Association and attempted on-site visit meetings, but none were realized," adding, "We will continue to strive to communicate with the medical students through various channels."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government has committed to presenting an 'Advanced Medical Education Plan' by September this year to improve the quality of medical education. On the previous afternoon, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held a press conference at the Government Complex Seoul regarding medical reform, pledging to steadily proceed with hiring 1,000 full-time faculty members at national universities and exempting the preliminary feasibility study for expanding lecture spaces.

The Ministry of Education explained that it is continuously consulting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the supervising department, regarding measures such as holding additional national medical licensing exams. However, spokesperson Koo stated, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare holds a defensive stance on additional exams, so there is nothing to announce at this stage."

Meanwhile, on the same afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Lee will hold a 'Joint Meeting for the Advancement of Medical Education' at the Government Complex Seoul, meeting with medical education experts including medical school professors and directors of national university hospitals to discuss the direction and tasks of the 'Advanced Medical Education Plan.'

Going forward, the Joint Meeting will serve as an integrated communication channel for the medical education field, with plans to regularize these meetings.

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