South Korea Adjusts Medical School Enrollment for 2026 Amidst Low Student Participation 🩺

The South Korean government has decided to adjust medical school enrollment for the 2026 academic year, setting the number of students admitted to 3,058—the same as the pre-increase levels of 2024. This decision comes after an attempt to increase enrollment to 5,058 students last year.

Key Points:

• Enrollment Adjustment: The medical school enrollment is set back to 3,058 students for the 2026 academic year.
• Low Participation: Despite all medical students registering, the average class participation rate across 40 medical schools is only 25.9%.
• Government Response: The Ministry of Education has decided to adjust the enrollment numbers following requests from university presidents and medical school deans, emphasizing the urgency of normalizing medical education.
• Strict Academic Standards: Unlike last year, there will be no leniency regarding academic standards. Students will face failing grades (유급, yugeup – academic probation) for non-attendance as per school regulations.

Background

The decision to revert to the original enrollment numbers was influenced by the Medical College Advancement Council (의총협) and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC). These bodies advocated for the adjustment to encourage students to return to their studies and normalize medical education.

Statements

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho stated, “With today’s announcement, we aim to put an end to the social debate regarding medical school enrollment for next year. Now, we must all unite to normalize medical education and focus our efforts on medical reform for the future of our country.”

The government plans to revise the Higher Education Act enforcement ordinance to provide the legal basis for adjusting medical school enrollment.

Despite the low participation rates, the government is firm on applying strict academic standards, emphasizing that there will be no academic flexibility this year.