Normalization of Medical Schools: Challenges Ahead "Limited Solutions... Expulsion According to Regulations"

[Financial News] Although medical students facing expulsion have declared their return, the normalization of medical classes faces challenges due to political declarations without the involvement of universities and the Ministry of Education, which are responsible for students' education.
There are physical difficulties in conducting classes separately from students receiving normal classes. Additionally, the public views the salvation of students with confirmed expulsion or retention requirements unfavorably. Changing university regulations poses multi-layered challenges, including fairness issues with students from other departments, making resolution unlikely to be easy.
The Council of Presidents for the Advancement of Medical Schools (Medical Presidents Council), a gathering of 40 medical school presidents, chaired by Yang Oh-bong, President of Jeonbuk National University, stated on the 13th, "The government and universities must come together to discuss the normalization of medical school operations," but added, "The solutions are truly limited." President Yang emphasized, "Although expulsion notices have not been received yet, students with confirmed expulsion requirements must be applied according to regulations," and "it is really difficult to reverse this."
■Practical Challenges in Academic Operations
The Korean Medical University and Graduate School of Medicine Student Association (Med Assoc) announced a joint statement for the normalization of medical education at the Korean Medical Association Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 12th, together with the National Assembly's Education Committee, Health and Welfare Committee, and the Korean Medical Association (KMA).
Lee Seon-woo, Med Assoc Emergency Committee Chairman, announced, "Based on trust in the government and the National Assembly, all students will return to school to contribute to the restoration of medical education and the medical system." This decision was made without the involvement of universities and the Ministry of Education, which are responsible for education, making future solutions unclear.
However, despite the medical students' declaration of return, the normalization of academic operations faces practical difficulties. The biggest issue is the overwhelming burden on the faculty.
Medical professors are already experiencing extreme mental and physical fatigue from clinical duties, research, and educating existing students. President Yang expressed the difficulties on the ground, saying, "They take night shifts for a day or two and continue clinical duties in the remaining time."
In this situation, operating a separate 'dual degree program' for returning students is expected to impose a significant additional burden on professors. Maintaining the quality of medical education and filling the academic gaps of students who have been away for a long time requires more than just adjusting academic schedules.
■Principles of Regulations and Fairness Issues
Universities operate academics based on regulations, which must be applied fairly to all students. President Yang reiterated, "Students with confirmed expulsion requirements must be applied according to regulations," making it clear that even medical students cannot be exceptions.
University regulations cannot be changed by the unilateral decision of the president and must undergo sufficient agreement among the medical faculty and deans. Ignoring regulations and granting privileges to specific students could not only undermine academic operation principles but also raise fairness issues with students from other departments. Concerns arise that this could cause serious difficulties in future university operations.
Moreover, this situation could deepen the conflict known as the 'Citrus' issue within the medical school. 'Citrus' is a slang term referring to students who remained at school and attended normal classes during the period of collective action. If a large number of students who left return, academic operation fairness and psychological conflicts with students who continued normal studies are inevitable. Ensuring the learning rights of current students is also important, and academic flexibility without considering them could cause further internal conflicts.

monarch@fnnews.com Kim Mangi Reporter