Seoul: Over 8,300 medical school students will be required to repeat a year, the Ministry of Education announced Friday, as 40 medical schools nationwide have concluded their disciplinary measures against students who did not return to classes.

According to Yonhap News Agency, an additional 46 students are facing expulsion following reports on the status of students from the 40 schools earlier this week. The ministry revealed that 8,305 students, accounting for 42.6 percent of all enrolled students, are subject to grade retention. This measure requires them to repeat the same academic year, subsequently joining a class of younger students.

The ministry's estimation indicates that up to 6,708 students, or 34.4 percent of the total student body, are expected to attend classes in the first semester of this year. The government has proposed reverting medical school enrollments to the pre-increase quota level of 3,058 by 2026, contingent upon all medical students returning to schools by the end of March, following a yearlong class boycott. Despite the deadline, a significant number of students have persisted in their protests by continuing to boycott classes.