The Korean government has offered to revoke a controversial plan to increase medical school places if current trainees call off ongoing strikes.

The announcement has caused uncertainty among prospective medical students preparing to apply for the coveted spaces.

The Ministry of Education said it would freeze medical school numbers at 3,058 per year from 2026 if students and trainee doctors returned to work by the end of March.?

It had previously pushed ahead with plans to allow medical schools to accept around 1,500 more students each per year, amid concerns about a shortage of doctors in the country.?

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¡°Our government¡¯s position that the medical school quota should be increased has not changed,¡± said education minister Lee Ju-ho, according to?. ¡°But restoring trust between the medical community and the government is also very important.¡±

When the government initially announced the plans in February 2024,?trainee doctors went on strike, arguing that education quality and working conditions should be improved before any changes to the system are made.?

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Under now-impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol,?the government refused to back down, despite continued protests and strikes.

While unclear whether medical students and trainee doctors will now return to work, the latest announcement has left some prospective medical students unsure of where they stand.

There were signs that, in light of the expansion of places,?more students were opting for medical studies over science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses,?as the number of applicants to some of Korea¡¯s top science and technology institutes fell for the 2025 academic year.?

Careers in medicine are popular among Korea¡¯s brightest students, thanks in part to the social status and job stability they bring.?

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However, if the government does row back on expansion plans, even more students than usual may be competing for limited medical school places in 2026.

The government has also released plans to restore ¡°normality¡± to medical education, including an investment of 606.2 billion won (?322.5 million) in 2025 to help ¡°improve quality¡±.?

In a statement, Lee said: ¡°The Ministry of Education will continue to cooperate with relevant ministries, medical school associations, and other experts in the field and make all-out efforts to normalise medical education.¡±?

He added: ¡°I sincerely hope that students will trust the will of the government and universities and quickly return to the field to continue their studies.¡±

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?helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com