Medical Association to Pursue Disciplinary Action Against Professor Kim Yoon Who Advocated for Medical School Expansion

KMA "Expression of Protecting Our Livelihoods Damages Doctors' Honor"

The Medical Association has decided to pursue disciplinary action against a doctor who advocated for an increase in medical school admissions.

On the 9th, the Medical Association stated, "We have decided to refer a member who recently caused social controversy through media interviews to the Central Ethics Committee for disciplinary review."

At the "Emergency Medical Representatives Meeting to Respond to the Expansion of Medical School Quotas" held at the Korean Medical Association (KMA) in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th of last month, President Il-su Lee (left) is seen conversing with Kwang-rae Lee, Chairman of the National Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Medical Associations. (Photo by Yonhap News)

According to the Medical Association, the subject of the disciplinary action is Professor Kim Yoon, a medical management professor at Seoul National University. Professor Kim has consistently argued through media interviews that the number of medical school admissions should be increased.

In a recent interview with Edaily, he said, "The number of doctors in our country is about two-thirds of the OECD average, and if we do not increase medical school admissions now, the gap will widen further," adding, "To reach the OECD average, we need to increase admissions by 1,000 students annually for 60 years. At least 3,500 students must be added."

Professor Kim also stated, "The shortage of doctors in rural and essential medical fields is about 10,000," and "The Medical Association's opposition to increasing medical school admissions is to protect vested interests."

In a forum hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in June, Professor Kim said, "If the shortage of doctors is addressed, the excessively high income of doctors in our country compared to the OECD will decrease, leading to a reduction in national medical expenses."

Regarding the disciplinary action against Professor Kim, the Medical Association claimed, "The member distorted the fact by suggesting that the Medical Association represents wealthy private practitioners and used expressions such as 'protecting their own interests,' thereby damaging the reputation of all doctors," and added, "By expressing opinions not based on objective facts on major medical issues such as increasing medical school admissions, he caused public distrust toward the medical community."