South Korean medical schools face expulsion amid ongoing strike over quotas

The government proposed increasing the medical school admission quota to address a doctor shortage, but students argue poor working conditions are the real issue

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A lecture room at a medical school in Daegu, South Korea, lies empty amid ongoing anger from doctors and students over a government quota. Photo: Yonhap via AP

Published: 2:30pm, 13 Mar 2025Updated: 3:45pm, 13 Mar 2025

South Korean medical schools are pressing students to return to class amid a 13-month dispute, threatening expulsion for those on strike, despite the government’s offer to freeze an admission quota that triggered the walkout.

In a letter dated Tuesday, Kim Jeong-eun, dean of Seoul National University’s medical school, said striking students must return to school by submitting a re-enrolment form before March 27.

“Failure to submit a [return-to-school form] could result in irreversible unregistered expulsion or dis-enrolment in accordance with school regulations,” he warned in the letter, as quoted by the Kyunghyang News.

“Severe disciplinary actions will be taken against those who disrupt classes and engage in bullying and harassment.”

On the same day, Korea University announced that it would extend the re-registration deadline for striking students from Thursday to March 21.

“After this deadline, further registration or re-enrolment applications will not be possible,” said Pyun Sung-bom, dean of Korea University’s medical school, The Korea Times reported.