With only a day left for medical students to return to school, the government warned Thursday that it would take strict action against those who refuse to attend classes.

“Most medical schools have reopened, but many students have not returned,” said Lee Han-kyung, head of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, after chairing a meeting to deal with the collective action of physicians.

“Large-scale leave of absence applications disrupt the normal academic operations of universities and deteriorate educational conditions,” Lee said. “We have no choice but to respond strictly according to academic rules if they refuse to attend classes.”

“The government continues to improve and support the learning environment, and faculty members are encouraging students to return as soon as possible,” he said. “As the deadline for returning to school is approaching, we urge medical students to make a reasonable decision for their dreams and the future development of medical care.”

Lee said that as soon as the bill to establish the Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Committee, which will address medical school enrollment for the class of 2027, passes the National Assembly, the government will support its formation and operation. The bill to amend the Basic Healthcare Act to establish the committee passed the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday.

“The government will support the formation and operation of the committee as soon as the National Assembly passes the bill,” Lee said. “For the new future of Korean healthcare, we will implement healthcare reform tasks, such as strengthening local essential medical care and creating a medical environment where medical professionals in the field can take pride.”

Earlier, the Council of University Presidents for the Advancement of Medical Schools, a group of 40 presidents of universities with medical schools nationwide, reaffirmed its principle of completing the rejection of applications for leave of absence by Friday and handling suspension and expulsion cases in principle as they arise.

Most universities have stipulated in their academic rules that students will be expelled if they do not enroll and flunked if they do not attend classes after enrolling. Mass flunking and expulsion are inevitable if they do not return by this date.

However, many medical students say they cannot go back yet.