Medical schools urge students to return to class as reinstatement deadline approaches

A consultative body of medical school deans on Friday urged medical school students to return to class as their reinstatement deadlines neared.

"We will firmly uphold next year's medical school enrollment quota of 3,058 students, and the 40 universities are preparing to ensure that students receive a high-quality education," the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate School of Medicine (KAMC) said in a letter to medical school students who are taking a leave of absence en masse to protest against the government's medical reform plans that included a sharp increase in the number of students admitted to medical schools.

"However, all of this will only be possible if you return to school," the letter read. The KAMC has 40 medical schools nationwide under its wing.

The message came as major medical schools, including Yonsei University, Korea University and Kyungpook National University, were set to close registration for students' reinstatement on Friday.

Earlier this month, the government said it will scrap the contested plan to increase medical school admissions next year to resolve the ongoing health care crisis, on the condition that all medical students on leave return to classrooms by the end of March.

Under the conditional decision, the medical school enrollment quota for next year has been set at 3,058, reversing the government's plan to increase admissions by 2,000 each year for five years to address a chronic shortage of doctors.

The decision to scrap the disputed plan came amid mounting concerns that disruptions in the country's health system and medical education may become irreparable should the prolonged walkout by junior doctors and students continue.

The KAMC said "a considerable number of students are returning to school," vowing to provide "thorough" protection, regarding concerns over criticism against returning students.

The organization declined to provide the exact number of students who have returned.

The Medical Professors' Association of Korea (MPAK), on the other hand, slammed the government and the medical schools' move as "non-educational," calling it "blackmail."

"Both taking a leave of absence and returning to school are personal matters for the students," the MPAK said, urging the schools to keep away from "blackmailing the students."

Earlier this week, the KAMC said the 40 medical schools have agreed to deny requests to take leave of absence for reasons other than health issues, military subscription or parenting, and "sternly" implement school rules, such as expulsion.

Kim Taek-woo, head of the Korean Medical Association, a major doctors' group, said he "respects the past decisions of trainee doctors and students, as they were driven by a strong commitment to create a better health care environment, and we will continue to respect their choices moving forward." (Yonhap)