In defiance of the government's proposed expansion of medical school admissions, approximately 280 medical students at Ewha Womans University took a unified stand by submitting a collective leave of absence petition on February 20. This marks a significant moment as it is the first time such action has been taken among medical students at major universities in Seoul.

Reportedly, almost all of the 280 students enrolled at Ewha Womans University Medical School participated in submitting the leave of absence forms. However, it was noted that the submissions were made in writing rather than through the formal university procedure. Normally, leave of absence applications at Ewha Womans University are processed individually through the portal system, following consultation with advisors or department heads, as well as discussions with parents. Although the submissions were not made through the official channels, the school intends to conduct interviews with the students at a later date, acknowledging their expressed intent to take a leave of absence.

An official from Ewha Womans University stated, "While the submissions are not in the typical format accepted by the school, they are being recognized as a collective expression of the students' desire to take a leave of absence."

This move by the medical students comes amidst a wave of resignations by medical residents protesting against the planned increase in medical school admissions. The Korean Medical University and Graduate Medical School Student Association (KMA) also announced their intention to submit a collective leave of absence report for one year.

As of the previous day, 1,133 students from seven out of the 40 medical schools nationwide had applied for a leave of absence, according to the Ministry of Education. Notably, four of these requests were granted, adhering to requirements and procedures for military leave and personal reasons.

Earlier on February 16, 160 medical students from Wonkwang University had similarly submitted a collective leave of absence request, but after discussions with their advisors, they opted to withdraw their intention to take a leave of absence.