Medical students across South Korea are continuing their boycott of classes in protest against the government’s decision to expand admission quotas at medical schools. The strike, which has been ongoing for almost a month, has now gained the support of 13,000 students who are planning to collectively file for injunctions to stop the increase in admission places.
Lawyer Lee Byeong-cheol, representing the students, announced that requests for injunctions will be filed by students from 32 medical schools outside of Seoul. They are seeking to halt the review of admission plans that aim to accommodate the additional places allocated by the government last month as part of a medical reform initiative.
The students argue that the expansion of admission quotas could compromise the quality of education provided by medical colleges and infringe on their constitutional right to education. Despite facing legal challenges, including injunction requests that have been rejected by the courts, the students remain determined to fight against the quota increase.
With universities currently in the process of updating their admissions plans for the 2025 academic year, the final decision on the increase in admission places is expected to be announced by the end of May. The medical student strike, supported by the wider medical community, is set to continue as they push for their voices to be heard in the ongoing debate over medical education reforms.