Uphylwon Grants 'Conditional Non-Accreditation' to Medical Schools of Chungbuk National University, Ulsan University, and Wonkwang University

Final Results to Be Confirmed After Re-evaluation in April
Freshman Recruitment May Be Disrupted Next Year if "Non-accreditation" is Given

Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Ulsan University College of Medicine, and Wonkwang University College of Medicine received a "conditional non-accreditation" judgment in the major change evaluation conducted by the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE).

According to the Ministry of Education on the 13th, KIMEE evaluated 30 medical schools that increased their enrollment quota by more than 10%, and notified these three schools of the conditional non-accreditation judgment. Objections will be accepted until the 27th, and the final results will be confirmed after a re-evaluation in April.

It was identified that the main reasons for this judgment were "lack of preparation for evaluation" for Chungbuk National University College of Medicine and Wonkwang University College of Medicine, and "lack of credibility in the Ulsan campus relocation plan" for Ulsan University College of Medicine. A Ministry of Education official explained, "Most medical schools with increased enrollment were evaluated to have the conditions and plans to continue education without disruption after the 2025 academic year."

The three universities that received the conditional non-accreditation judgment have a one-year supplementation period. They must address the deficiencies in the evaluation criteria and undergo re-evaluation, which differs from a "non-accreditation" judgment. Until the final results are confirmed, the existing accreditation period remains valid, so there is no impact on the eligibility of the 2025 academic year freshmen to take the national medical licensing examination after graduation.

However, if they receive a non-accreditation judgment again in the re-evaluation, the recruitment of freshmen next year may be suspended. The total enrollment quota of the three universities' medical schools is 385 students as of the 2025 academic year. Chungbuk National University increased from 49 students last year to 125 this year, Wonkwang University from 93 to 150, and Ulsan University from 40 to 110.

KIMEE was established in 2004 by the medical education community with the intention of improving the quality of medical education, and is responsible for evaluating and accrediting medical school curricula. Medical schools nationwide must periodically receive accreditation from KIMEE. When significant changes in medical education are expected, such as an "increase of more than 10% in enrollment quota," a "major change evaluation" is conducted. Medical schools that fail to receive accreditation may face suspension of freshman recruitment or restrictions on their freshmen’s eligibility to take the national medical licensing examination.

The Ministry of Education stated, "Based on the evaluation results, each university needs to take responsibility and make further efforts to improve the quality of medical education," and added, "The Ministry respects KIMEE’s autonomous and independent judgment and plans to support the universities’ self-help efforts to meet the requirements so that students do not suffer any disadvantages."

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