South Korea’s Education Ministry announced Tuesday it will revise a key decree to provide legal backing for its recent decision to freeze the number of medical school seats for the 2026 academic year at 3,058.
This matches previous years' admissions quotas before the government’s now-shelved expansion plan, which sought to increase the number to 5,058.
The proposed revision would allow university presidents to adjust their 2026 medical school admission quotas to the pre-expansion level of 3,058 students, citing educational conditions. It also requires universities to reflect this decision in their revised 2026 admissions plans, which must be officially announced by May 31.
The government’s move follows its April 17 decision to accept recommendations from the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and the council of medical school presidents to freeze the enrollment expansion, citing the urgent need to stabilize medical education amid students continuing their boycotts in class.
Individuals or organizations wishing to submit opinions on the proposed changes may do so via the national legislative notice portal until May 2.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho is scheduled to meet medical students on Tuesday for the first time since the standoff between the government and the medical community began more than a year ago.
The closed-door meeting will take place at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul on Tuesday afternoon. About 10 medical students are invited, though representatives of the Korean Medical Students Association, a leading hardline group, are not expected to attend.
According to the ministry, Lee will discuss plans to normalize medical education, support students affected by overlapping academic years — especially those in the 2024 and 2025 classes — and future policies to improve the medical education system.
jychoi@heraldcorp.com
