South Korea May Scrap Medical School Admission Increase Amid Ongoing Doctor Dispute

Seoul (The Uttam Hindu): South Korea's government is considering canceling its controversial plan to increase medical school admissions next year following a prolonged dispute with trainee doctors, sources said on Wednesday.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho met with deans of medical schools earlier this week, discussing the possibility of reducing the annual admission quota for 2026 to 3,058, which is 2,000 fewer than this year. This move comes if medical students currently on leave return for the March semester, according to government officials and medical sources.

The dispute began over a year ago when the government decided to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 as part of efforts to address a shortage of doctors. Despite the government's push for the increase, the move has faced strong opposition from medical students, with thousands taking a leave of absence in protest.

During a recent meeting, the deans of medical schools expressed their willingness to persuade students to return if the quota increase is frozen. However, the education ministry questioned whether freezing the quota would truly guarantee the students' return. No formal agreement was reached, and discussions remain ongoing.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has denied reports that Lee informally suggested freezing the quota, calling it a "media ploy." Meanwhile, medical students have indicated that they will continue their leave of absence regardless of whether the government proposes a freeze.

One medical student on leave stated, "I already submitted my leave of absence. The fact that students submitted their leaves of absence, even with the possibility of the quota hike being scrapped, means students are refusing to return."

The government's plan to increase medical school admissions is part of a broader initiative to raise the total number of admissions by approximately 10,000 over the next five years. The goal is to address the ongoing shortage of doctors in the country. However, this proposal has sparked intense opposition and protests from medical students who argue it could negatively impact the quality of medical education and their future careers.