Expressing dissatisfaction with medical school expansion outside the capital region
Final post edited amid 'Jibangmin belittlement' controversy
Joo Su-ho, former 35th president of the Korean Medical Association and representative of the Future Medical Forum, sparked controversy for allegedly belittling provincial residents by claiming, "What is lacking in the provinces is not doctors but the level of civility." Joo revised his statement 15 hours later.
On the 8th, Joo posted on his Facebook, "Increasing medical school quotas centered on talent from non-metropolitan areas is a deterioration that solidifies the hierarchy between metropolitan and non-metropolitan medical schools," adding, "(Such policies) will accelerate patients' movement to metropolitan areas. What is lacking in the provinces is not doctors but the level of civility."
Joo is a strong opponent of the government's policy to increase medical school quotas and is considered a leading candidate for the next president of the Korean Medical Association. The government announced plans to increase medical school quotas by 2,000 starting next year to address the shortage of doctors in provincial areas, prompting Joo's critical response.
The problematic part was Joo's phrase at the end of his post, "What is lacking in the provinces is not doctors but the level of civility." The term "level of civility" refers to the standard of living or cultural level of the people, which could be interpreted as implying that the living standards of provincial residents are insufficient.
This sparked online backlash accusing him of "belittling provincial residents," and seemingly aware of the controversy, Joo revised his post 15 hours after writing it on the night of the 8th to say, "What is lacking in the provinces is not doctors but patients."
Joo served as president of the Korean Medical Association for three years from 2007 to 2009 and has been making strong statements daily regarding the medical school quota increase policy.
A post opposing the increase in medical school admissions by Joo Suho, head of the Future Medical Forum, uploaded on Facebook. [Photo by Facebook]
On the 7th, he wrote on Facebook, "If you have a brain, think about it," adding, "Do you think smart doctors will act according to stupid intentions?" The next day, on the 8th, he emphasized, "If you are curious about the future, lift your head and look at Venezuela."
He also did not hide the fact that medical organizations are engaging in collective action to protect their "rice bowls." On the 7th, he stated, "Why should a fight to protect one's rice bowl from those trying to snatch it be criticized?" and "All wars, big and small, in history are ultimately fights over rice bowls."
Meanwhile, the government has announced plans to respond strongly if the Korean Medical Association's opposition escalates into illegal collective action.
Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said at a briefing held at the Government Seoul Office on the 8th, "The government will mobilize all legally prescribed means to protect the lives and health of the people and will promote a whole-of-government response."
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