The number of new admissions for medical schools for the 2026 academic year has been set at 3,058, effectively ending the government's push to increase medical school enrollment. Medical students have refused to attend classes, leading the government to surrender. Nevertheless, the medical community plans to carry out a protest against the government as scheduled on the 20th.
Lee Joo-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, announced this during a briefing on the '2026 Academic Year Medical School Enrollment' on the 17th. The government had previously stated it would increase the enrollment number to 5,058 as part of a medical reform initiative launched a year earlier, but it has reverted to the original number due to backlash from the medical community.
◇ Seven out of ten medical students refuse classes
Earlier, the government stated that if medical students returned to classes, the enrollment numbers for the 2026 academic year would revert to before the increase (3,058), but if they did not return, it would maintain the existing number (5,058). Medical students continued to confront the government by registering for the first semester but refusing to attend classes. According to the Ministry of Education, the class participation rate across 40 medical schools nationwide was 25.9% (22% for pre-med, 29% for medical students, and 35.7% for fourth-year medical students).
The government ultimately took a step back and reverted the medical school enrollment increase to the starting point. It stressed that the return of medical students to classes is urgent. Medical students face the risk of receiving F grades due to their absence from classes and could be collectively held back. There are concerns that students in medical programs may not meet the 52-week internship requirement, preventing them from taking the national exam, which could reduce the number of physicians being trained. In January, only 269 medical licenses were issued, well below the usual figure of around 3,000. If the number of medical students taking the national exam decreases again, it could lead to a shortage of physicians impacting hospital care and surgeries.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare expressed disappointment on this day, saying, 'We regret having to change the principle of the 2026 academic year medical school enrollment announced in early March.' They added, 'We believe this is a measure considering educational conditions as the medical school academic schedule has not been fully normalized,' and expressed hope that this measure would aid in normalizing medical school classes.
◇ The medical community continues protests, adopting a strategy of resilience
Despite the government's announcement, the medical community has entered a strategy of resilience. A representative from the Korean Medical Association (KMA) noted, 'Even though the government has reverted the medical school enrollment increase to the starting point, it doesn't seem like medical students or residents are returning.' The medical community expects that the conflict with the government could shift with the upcoming 21st presidential election on June 3rd. They believe there could be room for negotiations with the next government, in contrast to the previous administration, which pushed for an enrollment increase.
The KMA plans to proceed with a national assembly of doctors for medical normalization as scheduled on the 20th. It is reported that the KMA will demand the retraction of the essential medical package policy at the assembly. The essential medical package policy prohibits the mixing of covered and non-covered medical services. Since non-covered services are a major source of income for private practitioners, the medical community requests the allowance of mixed treatments. KMA Vice President Hwang Kyu-seok stated, 'Whether covered or non-covered, medical practices are for public health, and it is wrong for the government to unilaterally prohibit (mixed treatments).'
Meanwhile, the government will discuss the medical school enrollment for the 2027 academic year in the Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Forecast Committee, which is directly under the government. The committee is composed of 15 experts. However, a KMA representative noted, 'It has not yet been decided whether we will participate in the committee.' There are analyses suggesting that as the government has backed down in the conflict over medical school enrollment, the medical community sees less need to engage in dialogue.