Lee Jae-myung "No Privileges Allowed... Do Not Rescue Medical Students Refusing National Medical Exam"

"Demanding rights and opportunities already given up is a special privilege request"
"Can you violate law and common sense just because you have power?"

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated that students of medical schools and graduate medical schools who refuse to take the national medical licensing examination (Kuksi) "should not be allowed relief in principle."

On the 12th, Lee wrote on his Facebook, "The purpose of enforcing compliance with the legal order is not to oppress violators but to protect the freedom and rights of the majority through sanctions against violations," adding, "Unlimited individual freedom infringes on others' freedom, so we pursue the public good within a space created by partially restricting that freedom."

He continued, "Demanding rights and opportunities that were given up as a means of struggle to protect interests is an unfair special privilege," and pointed out, "It sends a wrong signal that if you have power, you can violate laws and common sense and receive special favors and exceptions at will, which would effectively allow privileged classes prohibited by the Constitution."

He also emphasized, "Even when exceptions are inevitably allowed considering the students, it should be limited to cases where sufficient reflection and apology make it acceptable to public sentiment," and "Under no circumstances should we succumb to struggle and pressure."

Earlier, on the 10th, the National Association of Medical School Professors issued a statement urging, "The government should conduct additional exams to provide relief to medical students who refused the national medical licensing exam."

The association declared, "The problems caused by the failure to properly conduct the licensing exam are very significant in both the short and long term, and the government is responsible for all these issues," emphasizing, "If the medical-government agreement breaks down, we will act together with students and young doctors."

However, the government expressed difficulty regarding such relief requests.

Son Young-rae, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained at a regular briefing that "The contents of the agreement between the Korean Medical Association and the government have already been disclosed in the agreement document, and there is no provision for additional exams for medical students," adding, "Students refused the exam of their own free will, and requesting the government to consider additional exams while they are voluntarily refusing is not possible, I reiterate."