South Korean Government Announces Return Plan for Medical Students on Extended Leave

On July 25, 2025, the South Korean government confirmed a plan for medical students who have been on long-term leave to return to their studies. The plan largely adopts the previously agreed-upon return strategies from various medical schools, while allowing each institution to manage academic administrative processes independently. This has raised concerns that students facing expulsion may not face any disciplinary actions.

The Ministry of Education stated in its announcement regarding the return and education of medical students that it has been in discussions with the Council of Deans of Medical Colleges (의과대학선진화를 위한 총장협의회) and has taken their recommendations into account. The government expressed its respect for the council's position and acknowledged the autonomy and responsibility of individual universities, promising to provide necessary administrative and financial support.

Additionally, the Ministry indicated that if universities develop creative academic management plans within the framework of relevant laws and regulations, these will be thoroughly reviewed and supported. Notably, there are plans to facilitate the national medical examination for third and fourth-year students graduating in August.

The council's position document outlines that academic administrative actions for medical students will be handled autonomously by each university, including decisions on promotions and graduation schedules. It specifies that the handling of students who did not attend classes in the first semester of the 2025 academic year will follow each university's regulations. According to government data from May, there are 8,300 students at risk of being held back and 46 facing expulsion. Universities are expected to follow previous agreements regarding students at risk of being held back, allowing them to return in the second semester. However, it appears that those facing expulsion may not face any formal actions, as the regulations state that the university president can expel students who take unauthorized leave, leaving the final decision to the discretion of the institution.

Each university has also finalized its promotion and graduation schedules. Fourth-year students will graduate in August next year, as per the council's initial proposal. Third-year students will have their graduation dates determined by their respective schools in either February or August of next year. First and second-year students are set to graduate in February 2029 and February 2028, respectively, while first and second-year pre-med students will advance normally in March of next year. The council emphasized that returning students will be educated separately by year starting in the second semester and will need to complete any outstanding credits from the first semester during breaks.

Furthermore, all universities are committed to protecting students who have already returned and are receiving education, and both the government and universities will establish guidelines to ensure smooth academic operations, which will involve revising university regulations accordingly.