Park Neung-hoo "Medical Students Cannot Retake National Exam... There Is Regret" (Update)

野 "Considering manpower supply issues, opportunities should be given" vs 與 "Not allowed due to legal and principle issues"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Amid ongoing demands from the medical community for medical students to be granted a retake opportunity for the national medical licensing exam, Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, once again expressed a stance of 'impossibility.'

On the 22nd, during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare by the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, Ju Ho-young, a member of the People Power Party, asked, "Is the Ministry's position that there will be no retake opportunity for medical students on the national exam?" Minister Park replied, "At present, there is none."

Rep. Ju stated, "While the collective actions of medical students are wrong, government agencies should not be emotional," and urged that "decisions should be made considering issues such as the supply and demand of medical personnel," calling for the granting of a retake opportunity.

In response, Minister Park said, "The government is also deeply considering such aspects."

On the other hand, Kang Byung-won of the Democratic Party of Korea raised his voice, saying that the retake of the medical students' national exam is a matter of law and principle, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare should respond with a consistent stance.

Rep. Kang asked, "The Korean Medical Association and others have said they will not form a medical-government consultative body unless the national exam issue is resolved. Is the medical students' national exam issue included in the medical-government agreement?" Minister Park answered, "No."

Rep. Kang pointed out, "Making the formation of the medical-government consultative body difficult on the premise of remedying the medical students' national exam issue turns the public's promise into a scrap of paper." He added, "The medical students' national exam issue is not a matter of emotion but of law and principle," emphasizing, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare should adhere to law and principle without wavering."

Minister Park agreed but expressed regret. He said, "There is regret regarding the medical students' national exam issue," adding, "It is not a matter of anger but about things not proceeding smoothly," leaving a lingering sentiment.