Education Minister Lee Ju-ho expressed the government’s position that freshmen students at medical schools should not be allowed to take a leave of absence this year to normalize medical education.

His comments came at a meeting with the presidents of universities with medical schools on Thursday.

“This year is the time to normalize medical education,” the minister said. “If medical students continue to refuse to return, their process of growing into medical professionals will be delayed, and society will suffer great losses, including disruptions in the training of medical personnel.”

He added that if they do not return this year, we are concerned that even if they want to return in the future, they may not be able to do so at the desired time, depending on the educational conditions of each university.

“The freshman class of 2025 was admitted after the decision to increase enrollment, so the number of students is higher than other grades,” Lee said. “I understand that most universities do not allow freshmen to take a leave of absence. I hope the university presidents will strictly administer scholastic affairs according to their regulations.”

Lee noted that “serious incidents” have occurred in some universities, such as circulating lists of students returning to class or forcing students to take a leave of absence at freshman orientation, calling for the university heads to protect the learning rights of students who “have the courage to continue their studies.”

“The government will discuss and resolve the medical school enrollment quota issue with the medical community with an open mind and from a zero base,” Lee said. “I will play my role in each process with responsibility as the deputy prime minister for social affairs.”