On July 18, a group of 300 students at CHA University identifying as the “CHA University Student Delegation”, consisting of 317 students from the College of Future Convergence, College of Health Sciences, and College of Life Sciences, issued a joint statement titled “Excessive Academic Flexibility and Privileges for Medical Students Is Discriminatory Against Others.”
The students argued, “Medical students left at will without any academic consequences, and now they’re returning with virtually no consequences either. This is fundamentally unfair to students in other departments.”
The 32 medical students in question are part of the Medical Graduate School and were previously categorized as eligible for expulsion due to prolonged absence during the nationwide medical student strike. According to a May report from the Ministry of Education, CHA University accounted for the largest number of such students among 40 universities, with 32 out of 46 cases nationwide. Despite this, the students were reintegrated into classes at the end of June, which the university initially claimed was on an “auditing basis” and unrelated to their academic advancement.
However, the Student Delegation challenged this claim, asserting that these students are fully enrolled in regular courses and not simply auditing. They criticized the university’s unilateral decision to reinstate them without awaiting official government guidance, which most other medical schools are still adhering to.
“If these students were from other departments, they would’ve been dismissed already. What makes medical students so special that they receive such privileges?” the statement questioned. The students further warned, “If the university fails to enact proper disciplinary measures, we will initiate a mass leave of absence in the second semester.”
There are also reports that some of the reinstated medical students disrupted the return of junior students, further fueling tensions. The delegation emphasized that reinstating students effectively dismissed under university rules without penalties is a violation of academic regulations and undermines fairness across the institution.
Netizens’ Comments:
- “The school’s failure to take action against students subject to expulsion for prolonged absence is a clear violation of its own regulations. Why do school rules exist? They exist to be followed. Students who violate them should be disciplined accordingly, without any special privileges.”
- “The Constitution must apply equally to all citizens of the Republic of Korea, and school regulations must be applied equally to all students. The failure to expel medical students who meet the criteria is an act of the school undermining its own authority and trust.”
- “Laws are created to be upheld. Even if we have a criminal president, criminal prime minister, and criminal ministers in a corrupt government, let’s at least handle the academic management of medical students according to the law and principles.”
- “Of course, there must be a clear and fair legal distinction regarding students who failed to return. Granting them special treatment could spark further issues. Universities, especially those training future doctors, must uphold strict standards in both education and ethics. Professors, please wake up. You’re not teaching students to treat human life carelessly or sloppily, are you?”
- “This is a sound opinion… and a very obvious one at that.”
This situation could potentially lead to the largest collective student leave of absence since the 2023 medical school protests, spotlighting ongoing tensions in South Korea’s higher education landscape regarding fairness, governance, and institutional autonomy.
Naver
