Medical students from the classes of 2024 and 2025 in South Korea are currently facing significant challenges due to the phenomenon of ‘doubling,’ where students from two different cohorts are attending classes together. This situation arises from the recent expansion of medical school enrollments by the Yoon Suk-yeol government, which has resulted in overcrowded classrooms and insufficient teaching resources. Students have expressed frustrations over inadequate facilities, such as a lack of desks and limited access to computers, which hampers their ability to engage effectively in their education.

The difficulties are particularly pronounced in practical training sessions where students are now required to work in larger groups for procedures like anatomy dissections. Reports have indicated that in one medical school, as many as 20 students are sharing a single corpse for their practicum, a stark contrast to the recommended group size of four to six students. Students have reported that they often miss out on hands-on experience with instruments and face obstacles in asking questions during lectures, particularly in larger, split-classroom settings.

Looking ahead, medical education experts worry that this trend will persist, decreasing the quality and density of clinical exposure for these students. As they progress into third-year clinical courses, the limited opportunities to engage directly with patients will likely lead to a generation of doctors who may be stigmatized as 'subpar.' Educators argue that rather than simply opposing the increase in medical school enrollments, there needs to be a concerted effort to address the educational environment to ensure future doctors receive the training they need to competently serve in the healthcare system.