The possibility of mass expulsion of medical students is becoming an internal battle within the medical community.

Universities stress that this is their last chance to return. Medical associations denounce this as coercion and insist that schools should "respect the autonomous choice of medical students."

Even medical students are divided over whether to return or not.

“I hope students will nurture their dreams of becoming medical practitioners at school. Please return to school immediately,” Jeonbuk National University President Yang O-bong said Wednesday in a letter to students and their parents. Yang co-chairs the Council of Presidents for the Advancement of Medical Education, a group of 40 presidents of universities with medical schools.

The council said that 35 of the 40 medical schools have completed rejecting leave of absence applications. It will hold a meeting next Monday to discuss further proceedings.

Each medical school has also issued statements and held meetings to encourage students to return.

Deans at Seoul National University College of Medicine issued a letter on Tuesday, saying it is the “last chance” for students to finalize their reinstatement applications by Thursday.

Yonsei University College of Medicine has sent notices to unenrolled students that they will be expelled and is holding meetings with students and parents. Yonsei University College of Medicine Dean Choi Jae-young sent text messages to students, saying he wanted to hear their voices and would wait for them at the dean's office on Wednesday and Thursday.

Medical associations criticized universities for aligning with the government and coercing students.

The South Jeolla Medical Association issued a statement on Wednesday, saying it “fully respects the autonomous choice of medical students” and criticized the government and media for “promoting conflict” by announcing exaggerated figures on the return of medical students.

“This is irresponsible behavior that divides students and deprives them of the opportunity to make their judgment,” the statement said. “It distorts medical students' decisions based on their beliefs and circumstances and undermines their free will.”

The provincial medical association called for medical school professors to protect students, citing Lim Young-seok, dean of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, as an example. Lim said, “I have no intention of using the pressure card of expulsion against the students,” adding that he would try to convince them through dialog.

The association praised Lim's decision: "We hope you will actively protect students, regardless of their choice.”

“Many students are hesitant to return due to pressure from hardliners and the threat of expulsion,” it added. “Schools that rule out expulsion and persuade students through dialogue, such as the University of Ulsan, or extend virtual classes to reduce students’ burden, such as Kyung Hee University, are the examples of student protection.”

The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which had said it would consider a general strike if medical students were expelled, has also started facing internal dissent. It is reportedly discussing the idea of asking the government and universities to delay the expulsion of medical students by one to two weeks.

Despite calls for a 'united front,' medical students remain divided on whether to return. Some medical students have formally confirmed their decision not to re-enroll. Students at Seoul National University College of Medicine plan to hold a vote on whether to register.

Five medical students who served as the student body president of Korea University College of Medicine issued statements under their real names on Tuesday.

“An environment should be created where students can implement their decisions without hesitation. They should be fully guaranteed the freedom to decide where they want to stay without any more unnecessary scrutiny,” the statement added, saying that their decision to return should also be respected.

On the same day, six Yonsei University College of Medicine students also appealed to the government to “stop the repression and start a dialogue,” emphasizing the desperation that forced them to take a leave of absence. These students stressed that reports that more than 50 percent of Yonsei University College of Medicine students have returned are untrue and that “only a few students have actually returned.”

“Some students who enrolled and then took a leave of absence due to government and school coercion are being misrepresented as returnees,” they said. “Most students are still on leave, looking at the current situation with desperation.”

"Unfortunately, taking a leave of absence is the only way students can express their opposition in policy-making,” the statement said, calling on the government to “sincerely communicate” with the Korean Medical Students Association.