Surge in military enlistment among South Korean medical students

SEOUL - The number of medical students opting for military enlistment instead of continuing their medical studies has surged, surpassing 1,000, in response to the government’s decision to expand medical school quotas, government data showed on Oct 8.

Data obtained from the Ministry of Education by Ms Jin Sun-mee from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea revealed that as at Aug 23, military leave had been granted to 1,059 students from 37 of the nation’s 40 medical schools. This excludes three universities that did not submit data. The figures represent a 6.5-fold increase from 2023’s count of 162 students taking military leave.

Traditionally, South Korean medical students fulfil their mandatory military service as military doctors after obtaining their medical licences, a role that entails a 39-month service period.

However, in protest

against the government’s medical reforms

, many students have opted to take leave of absence and enlist as active-duty soldiers, with a service period of 18 months instead.

This trend could potentially lead to shortages in the military doctor supply, observers say. The mass exodus from medical schools could also threaten to lower the usual annual output of about 3,000 new doctors, critical to the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

“The government must urgently open a dialogue with the students to address and resolve these issues,” Ms Jin said.

Since February, over 15,000 medical students across the country have applied for

leave of absence and boycotted classes

in protest against the policy to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 starting in 2025. As at Aug 23, data from 37 medical schools indicates that only 3,693 students have registered for classes, which represents just 19.1 per cent of the total 19,374 medical students nationwide.

In response, the Education Ministry on Oct 6 said it would temporarily allow medical students to take a leave of absence on the condition that they return to school in 2025.

While reaffirming its stance that taking leave to show solidarity is not a valid reason, the ministry said its temporary measure is aimed, in part, at normalising education. However, the ministry warned that students who fail to return in 2025 would face penalties, including possible expulsion. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK