The government has proposed measures to bring back medical students and trainee doctors but they remain apathetic. In particular, most sixth-year medical students plan not to take the national medical examination for 2025.

The Korean Medical Student Association said Thursday it surveyed 3,015 sixth-year students from 40 medical schools nationwide and found that 2,903 respondents, or 95.52 percent, refused to submit a consent form to provide personal information for the national medical exam.

"The sixth-year medical students did not submit the consent form to provide personal information for submission of the graduating class list, so it is impossible to apply online," the medical school student association said. “These students have effectively expressed their refusal to participate in the 2025 medical examination."

The Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (KHPLEI) has received lists of graduating students from medical schools to verify candidates in preparation for the medical licensing examination. This process requires the candidates to agree to provide their personal information. Each medical school had until June 20 to submit the list of graduating students to the institute. If the graduating students fail to provide personal information, they cannot take the exam.

"This shows the strong will of the students in response to the current medical crisis," said Son Jeong-ho, co-chairman of the Joint Emergency Response Committee of the medical student association, "We have already conveyed our demands to the government. What will happen in the future is due to the government's decision. If the government wants to solve the problem, it should decide sooner rather than later."

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Education announced the "Guidelines for Flexible Operation of Medical School," which includes additional medical exams for sixth-year students, but medical students seemed unwilling to return.

Park Dan, head of the Korean Intern Resident Association’s emergency committee, supported the medical students. Sharing a media report on his social media that 96 percent of sixth-year students refused to take state exams, Park said, "Our demands are firm and clear. I respect and support the students' decision. "I'm not going back."