TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of medical students from South Korea will return to classrooms after a 17-month strike, according to an industry body on Monday, July 14, 2025. As reported by CNA and Arab News, this ends part of the standoff that also involved junior doctors' strikes.
“Students have agreed to return to school,” a spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association said on Monday, adding that the decision on the students' return schedule is in the hands of each medical school.
The Korean Medical Students' Association stated in an earlier statement that the students made this decision because the prolonged boycott “could cause the collapse of the fundamentals of medical systems.”
Approximately 8,300 students are expected to return to campus, but no specific schedules have been provided.
South Korea's healthcare fell into chaos early last year when the then-president, Yoon Suk Yeol, took steps to drastically increase medical school admissions. Yoon argued the urgent need to increase the number of doctors to meet the growing demand in an aging society.
The initiative sparked strong protests, prompting young doctors to leave hospitals and medical students to boycott their classrooms, leading to operational cancellations and service disruptions nationwide.
The measure was later relaxed, and the government finally offered to scrap it in March 2025, after Yoon was impeached over his disastrous military emergency declaration.
Prime Minister Kim Min Seok welcomed the decision, calling it a "big step forward" in a Facebook post on Sunday, and added that President Lee Jae Myung is considering ways to resolve the issue.
In addition to the student boycott, about 12,000 junior doctors staged a strike last year, with most of them still refusing to return to work.
Lee—who took office in June after winning a snap election following Yoon's removal—had pledged during the campaign to try to resolve the medical strike.
The increase in medical student admissions led to a record number of students retaking college entrance exams in November. This is in an effort to take advantage of reforms that make it easier for them to enter their desired major.
Editor’s Choice: 10 Hardest Universities to Get Into in the U.S.: Harvard, Stanford, and More
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
First-Ever Graduation at Politeknik Tempo: 26 Students Set to Tackle the Working World
14 jam lalu
Shafi said that most of the Politeknik Tempo students had already been employed even before officially graduated.
Seoul Summer Travel Guide: Tips for a Smooth Vacation
2 hari lalu
Seoul has been hit by a heatwave with temperatures reaching 37.7 degrees Celsius over the past few days.
INA Reports Rp65.4tn in Total Investments in May
3 hari lalu
The Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) reported a cumulative investment value of Rp65.4 trillion since its establishment in 2020 through May 2025.
Seaplane, Glamping Construction Plan on Mount Rinjani Draws Flak
4 hari lalu
Local residents are worried about the potential ecological damage and impact on the spiritual space in Mount Rinjani.
South Korea's Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Detained for Second Time
4 hari lalu
The arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol was made after a South Korean court deemed he could tamper with evidence.
Yoon Suk Yeol Attends Detention Hearing on Coup-Related Charges
5 hari lalu
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on July 9 over charges tied to a failed military emergency attempt.
Texas Flood Disaster: 51 Lives Lost, 27 Students Remain Missing
8 hari lalu
The death toll in the severe floods in Texas, United States, continues to rise, claiming the lives of students camping, with 27 female students still reported missing.
South Korea to Distribute Cash Aid to Citizens in Effort to Boost Economy
8 hari lalu
South Korea's Cabinet has approved an additional budget of about Rp 378.5 trillion for direct cash assistance.
Israel's War on Doctors and Healthcare Workers in Gaza
9 hari lalu
The death of Doctor Marwan Al-Sultan marks structured attacks on Gaza's healthcare system.
Starbucks Indonesia Shuts Down Dozens of Stores in Q1 Amid Ongoing Boycott
10 hari lalu
The current management of Starbucks is still working to restore the sentiment prevailing in society.
