[2020 National Audit] "Kuksiwon Director's Appeal for Additional Medical Student Exams Inappropriate"

Ruling Party Lawmakers Point Out "Overreach Contrary to Government Position"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] Recently, Lee Yoon-sung, president of the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (KHPLEI), visited the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) to appeal for a re-examination opportunity for medical students who failed the national medical licensing exam, which has been criticized by ruling party lawmakers as an overreach of authority.

At the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit of KHPLEI on the 15th, Seo Young-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out, "Many citizens currently oppose the re-examination of medical students, and the government is emphasizing principles and fairness," adding, "In this situation, it is inappropriate for the head of a Ministry of Health and Welfare-affiliated institution to meet with the ACRC chairman and claim that the medical system will collapse if an additional exam is not held this year."

Go Young-in, also a Democratic Party lawmaker, criticized Lee’s visit to the ACRC and his remarks as beyond his authority and inconsistent with the government’s position. The Ministry of Health and Welfare maintains that granting additional exams to medical students violates fairness and equity and cannot be allowed without public understanding and consent.

Lawmaker Go said, "The ACRC plays a mediating role in unresolved social issues," and added, "It was a misstep for the head of a Ministry of Health and Welfare-affiliated organization to go to the ACRC and express a personal opinion asking for permission for medical students to retake the licensing exam."

In response, President Lee explained, "There were some presumptuous parts," and said, "Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the ACRC wanted to accurately understand the overall situation regarding the medical licensing exam, so I visited to provide an official explanation."