Ministry of Education: "Class of '25 Medical Students Knew About Medical School Expansion Before Admission, So Strike? No Academic Flexibility Allowed"

Ministry of Education Regular Briefing on the 4th
"No Justification for Leave of Absence for New Students... Mandatory Participation in First Semester Classes"
"Last Year's Leave Approvals Aimed to Protect Students... This Year, the Situation Is Different"
Return by March Required for Separate Education of 2024 and 2025 Cohorts

The Ministry of Education announced that it will not implement the 'academic flexibility' policy for medical school administration this year.

Last year, amid conflicts between medical and government authorities, exceptions were made to approve medical students' leaves of absence. However, the 2025 medical school entrants, who enrolled knowing about the increase in medical school admissions, have no justification for strike leaves or class refusals based on the increase in medical school admissions. Accordingly, leaves of absence for new medical students will be strictly handled according to school regulations.

On the 4th, a Ministry of Education official stated at a regular briefing with the press corps held at the Government Sejong Complex, "There will absolutely be no academic flexibility this year," adding, "We will closely monitor whether each university follows its school regulations." Regarding the 2025 entrants, the official explained, "Since they enrolled knowing about the increase in admissions, actions such as strike leaves or class refusals based on the increase in medical school admissions cannot be justified," and "We will prioritize verifying whether school regulations are being properly applied to them."

He continued, "Last year, the Ministry of Education's sudden approval of leaves of absence and academic flexibility was intended to protect students, not because the government backed down," adding, "The situation last year and this year is very different. If they do not return this year, education will effectively become impossible." He explained that with the 'doubling' of the 2024 and 2025 cohorts, students must return by the end of March for separate education to be feasible.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Education emphasized, "The medical school students admitted in 2025 enrolled knowing about the increase in admissions, so there is no justification for refusing classes due to the increase. Universities will strictly enforce school regulations on the 2025 students who refuse classes." The photo shows a medical college in Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News.

Furthermore, since the 2023 cohort and earlier were not doubled, they can receive education one grade at a time upon return, so there is no problem. However, the official emphasized that the cohorts most severely affected by leaves of absence and class refusals at this point are the 2024 and 2025 cohorts.

The official said, "The 2024 and 2025 cohorts, who are below the 2024 cohort, are already doubled, and if they do not return this year, three cohorts including the 2026 cohort will overlap next year," adding, "All disadvantages arising from the current situation will be borne by those below the 2024 cohort."

The Ministry plans to respond strictly to acts that obstruct course registration, such as pressuring new medical students to 'drop courses.' The Ministry has requested a police investigation following reports of pressure on new students to take leaves of absence received by the Medical Student Protection and Reporting Center.

A Ministry of Education official said, "We receive many calls from new students and parents at the center," adding, "They say, 'I want to go to school, but senior students are pressuring me, so I am worried.' We will respond strictly to protect students' right to learn."

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