Over 300 Students at CHA University Threaten Collective Leave Over Academic Disputes

More than 300 students from CHA University (차의과대학교) have announced that they will initiate a collective leave of absence if the university does not take academic action against medical students who are subject to expulsion. These students were allowed to return to classes in June without any academic penalties despite being classified as expulsion candidates due to prolonged absences. With no expulsion decisions made a month later, the students are now taking a stand. If they proceed with the collective leave, it could become the largest such action since the medical student return issue arose following last year's medical dispute.

On July 18, a group of 317 student representatives issued a joint statement titled "Excessive Academic Flexibility and Privileges for Medical Students Discriminate Against Students from Other Departments." They expressed that medical students left without any academic consequences when they chose to, and now they are attempting to return without facing any real academic repercussions. This situation feels unfair to students from other departments. The representatives included students from various fields such as Future Convergence University, College of Health Sciences, and College of Life Sciences.

In total, 32 medical students at CHA University were designated for expulsion due to long-term class refusals. According to a May announcement from the Ministry of Education, there were 46 expulsion candidates across 40 medical schools nationwide, with CHA University having the highest number from a single institution. The expelled students returned to classes at the end of June, and when this was reported in the media, the university explained to the education authorities that these students were participating as auditors and were not involved in the promotion process.

The student representatives pointed out that many other schools are still waiting for government guidelines and have not yet allowed their students to return. They criticized CHA University for unilaterally permitting the return of expulsion candidates without government approval. They argued that if these students were from other departments, they would have faced multiple expulsions. They questioned why these medical students are receiving such preferential treatment. Furthermore, they stated that if the university does not take actual expulsion actions against these students, they will proceed with a collective leave in the second semester.

Some of the expelled medical students have even obstructed the return of junior medical students to classes. The university's decision to allow these expelled students to attend classes alongside returning students has sparked significant backlash from students in other departments.

A representative from the student group stated in a phone interview that contrary to the university's claims, the medical students who returned were not merely auditors but were officially attending classes. They emphasized that allowing students who are subject to expulsion to return without penalties is a violation of school regulations.