South Korean Medical Students Return After Yearlong Admission Protest

South Korean medical students who had walked out in early 2024 to protest government plans to increase medical school admissions have announced they will return to their studies, calling for the normalization of academic schedules. The Korean Medical Association and student groups expressed trust in the government and parliament to restore the academic calendar and improve training conditions, though no specific timeline for the return was provided. The students and trainee doctors had opposed the increase in admissions, arguing it would lower the quality of medical education and calling for broader reforms to attract doctors into essential care fields such as emergency and pediatrics. The KMA urged the president and government to establish a task force to address long-term reforms in medical education and training with participation from all stakeholders. Despite the government reversing its decision to increase the 2026 medical school quota, many students and trainees had not fully returned to hospitals or schools until now. These developments mark a step toward resolving the prolonged medical education impasse in South Korea.