The Korean Medical Association has announced that thousands of South Korean medical students are set to return to classes after a 17 -month long boycott.

Trainee doctors went out to oppose government schemes to increase medical school entry, arguing that it would reduce the quality of education they received.

The association has not provided any timeline for their return, but the group has urged the government to restore the academic calendar and improve the training status.

Prime Minister Kim Min-Sek welcomed the end of the boycott, described it as a “big step forward”.

“This is the time to take a close look at the medical field, Congress and the government, so that civilians can help solve problems,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

The Korean Medical Association stated that “we will have faith in the government and Parliament and will be committed to return to school to help normalize medical education and health system,” in a statement issued jointly with the Education Committee of Parliament and other lobby groups.

The government increased the annual admission of medical students in universities from around 3,000 to about 5,000, saying that more employees were required to meet the demand.

It went back to its plan in March 2025.

The Yonhap News Agency said that 8,305 students would be subject to grade retention, they will need to repeat the same educational year according to the Ministry of Education.