Lee Ju-ho Meets Deans of 40 Medical Schools: "Efforts to Normalize Medical Education"

by Oh Jooyean

Published 24 Feb.2025 16:04(KST)

Updated 25 Feb.2025 07:00(KST)

Deputy Prime Minister and Medical School Deans Hold Meeting on the 24th

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated regarding the normalization of medical school education, "This year, the government will do its best together with universities to ensure that students return and medical schools can be normalized."

On the 24th, Deputy Prime Minister Lee held a meeting with deans of 40 medical schools at the Seoul Station conference room and made these remarks.

At this meeting, based on the cooperation request letter sent to the government on the 17th by the council of medical school deans, the 'Korean Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC)', they discussed plans for student return, protection of learning rights, and preparations for the 2025 academic year education.

KAMC proposed resetting the medical school quota for the 2026 academic year to the 2024 academic year level of 3,058 students, and that the total quota from the 2027 academic year onward be decided by a projection committee formed in agreement with the medical community.

They also suggested concretizing the Ministry of Education's full support measures regarding medical education-related systems, administration, and finances to maintain and improve the quality of medical education.

The Ministry of Education stated, "The government will do its best to ensure student return and normalization of medical schools," and requested, "Deans should actively communicate through student counseling and other means to encourage students to return." They added, "There are many complaints and inquiries from students wishing to return to the Medical Student Protection and Reporting Center," and urged, "Universities should make every effort to protect learning rights so that students can return to their studies with peace of mind."

The Ministry of Education plans to announce measures for the normalization of medical education within this month. Koo Yeon-hee, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the same day, "We are continuing efforts to make the announcement within this month."