On the 29th, the government allowed universities to voluntarily approve leave of absence requested by medical students for personal reasons. This is a step back from the policy of approving leave of absence on the condition that students return next year.
The President’s Office also said, “There is no change in the government’s position that a leave of absence cannot be a justifiable reason,” but added, “It can be seen that autonomy has been given to universities in handling leave of absence.”
Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho held a meeting with the presidents of 40 universities with medical schools on this day and accepted the president’s request for autonomous action in approving leave of absence.
In the ‘Emergency Plan for Normalization of Medical School Academic Academic Affairs’ announced on the 6th, the government stipulates that even in cases of leave of absence for personal reasons, complete supporting documentation must be provided and individual counseling is provided, and only students who have pledged to return in the first semester of the 2025 school year will be granted leave. was approved.
This, along with the backlash that this was effectively a ‘blockade of leave of absence’ after a medical gap, the government’s stance that repeating grades or being expelled was inevitable if students did not return next year, aroused opposition from medical students.
In addition, when the National University Presidents’ Council and the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences requested easing, the government appears to have reversed its position after 23 days. The Korean Medical Association and the Korea Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate Schools of Medicine (KAMC, Association of Medical Schools) requested the relaxation of leave approval measures as a condition of participation in the ruling and opposition party council.
A high-ranking official from the President’s Office met with reporters and said, “This is by no means a message that we will completely allow a situation where all students request permission to take a leave of absence at once,” but added, “The Ministry of Education sympathized with the opinions expressed by universities.” It gave strength.
As a result, large-scale grade repetition and expulsion of medical students has been avoided, but it is unclear whether students will return to the normal academic schedule next year. Medical students who submitted a notice of leave of absence and left school last February in protest against the policy to increase the number of medical schools have not yet shown any change despite government persuasion.
An official from the President’s Office said, “From the students’ perspective, this is the final judgment on whether to return next semester or to come back now and finish the second semester using flexible academic management,” and added, “Since the government has accepted the university’s suggestion, the universities themselves will decide on the first semester for next year.” “It will have the effect of resolving uncertainty about preparations for the semester,” he said.
▲Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary to the President for Social Affairs, is giving a keynote presentation at the ‘Medical Reform, Where Are We Going’ debate held at Park Hee-taek Hall, Convergence Building, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 10th. On the left is Jeong Kyeong-sil, head of the Medical Reform Promotion Team of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. ⓒYonhap News
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