Seoul National University Professors' Association "Respect for Decisions to Approve Medical School Leave of absence"

When the Ministry of Education extended the audit period of Seoul National University's medical school in connection with the approval of a group leave of absence for medical students, the Seoul National University faculty and professors' group urged the university to respect the medical school's decision to approve the leave of absence.

The faculty of Seoul National University sent an official letter to the president of Seoul National University today, saying that the university's headquarters should respect the decision of the medical school.

The faculty criticized the ministry for conducting certain audits of medical schools as well as university headquarters by extending the period, calling it an inappropriate attempt to stifle students' right to learn and force universities into administrative power if they do not follow government policy.

In order to protect the basis of university autonomy and academic administration and to guarantee students' right to learn, he said, we demand that the university headquarters respect the decision of the medical school.The Federation of Professors of National Universities

also demanded in a press release that the Ministry of Education criticizes coercive measures and immediately suspends its request for revocation of leave of absence, which undermines university autonomy and neglects students' right to learn.

He also added that if the university's autonomy is ignored undemocratically and coercive measures are taken, the legitimacy of the abolition of the Ministry of Education will have no choice but to be publicized.