Medical students' return plan opens door to ending 17-month standoff
Thousands of medical students are planning to return to studies after 17 months of boycotting classes in protest of the government-led medical school quota hike, signaling an end to a prolonged standoff that strained the country’s health care system. Their return, however, is unlikely to be immediate, as their schools and the government need to decide whether to allow them to return without any disciplinary measures for the long-term absence. Moreover, full recovery of medical service disruptions will be possible only when junior doctors, who also left hospitals in protest, also return to work. The Korean Medical Student Association announced the decision to return on Saturday, blaming the prolonged standoff on the previous administration and expressing trust in President Lee Jae Myung, with whom they hope to open negotiations. However, the group offered no details on how or when students would return, casting doubt on whether a full resumption is imminent. “Korea’s medical system is in an unprecedented crisis. This devastating outcome was caused by the unilateral actions and polic
