Health Minister Cho Kyu-hong: "80% of the Public Support Medical School Expansion, Will Respond to Strikes with Law and Principles"

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The government announced on the 6th that if medical organizations oppose the increase in medical school admissions by engaging in collective actions such as mass sickouts and strikes, it will respond firmly according to the law and principles.

Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, said at a press briefing held after the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee (HMPDC) meeting at the government Seoul office in the afternoon, "If the medical community engages in illegal actions in response to the announcement of the increase in medical school admissions, the government will respond according to the obligations prescribed by law."

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong is announcing the plan to expand medical school admissions quotas on the 6th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The Korea Medical Association (KMA) held a press conference in the morning and strongly criticized the government's announcement of increasing medical school admissions, stating that if the government forcibly expands the medical school quota, they will launch a general strike. The KMA said, "Despite repeated proposals from the medical community, the government is announcing unilateral policies without sufficient discussion and consultation," and added, "If the government unilaterally pushes forward the expansion of medical school admissions without communication with the medical community, the KMA will immediately disclose the results of the strike approval survey conducted among all members last December and proceed with the general strike process."

The Council of Presidents of Metropolitan and Provincial Medical Associations also stated, "If the government unilaterally enforces the essential medical policy package and the increase in medical school admissions, we will not hesitate to join the general strike together with resident doctors." The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) also revealed that in a survey of 4,200 members, representing 28% of the total membership, 86% of respondents expressed their intention to participate in collective actions if medical school admissions increase.

In response, Minister Cho rebutted, "Last week, we announced the essential medical policy package, which included prerequisites for expanding medical school admissions claimed by the medical community, such as fee increases, alleviation of medical malpractice burdens, and improvement of working conditions," adding, "We requested the KMA's opinion on the appropriate scale of medical school admissions last month via official letter, but they ignored it. Despite repeated requests both officially and unofficially, the KMA did not respond until the end."

He continued, "More than 80% of the public supports the increase in medical school admissions, so this cannot be decided solely through negotiations between the government and medical organizations. Therefore, it was finalized through discussions at the HMPDC, a statutory body involving healthcare providers, consumers, and experts," explaining, "The claim that this is a unilateral government decision is not true."

The government has established a firm stance that if the medical community goes on strike, it will immediately issue orders to return to work and impose disciplinary actions if these orders are not followed.

Minister Cho emphasized, "We hope medical staff will stay by patients' sides," and added, "However, if illegal collective actions occur, the government will take firm measures according to the Medical Service Act and related laws."

During the briefing, Minister Cho made a heartfelt appeal to the medical staff once again.

He said, "The government and the medical community are collaborators and partners who must unite their efforts with the common goal of protecting the lives and health of the people," and added, "The government has decided to identify and promote reform tasks in various fields under a desperate sense of crisis that this is the last chance for medical reform. We hope the medical community will contribute to creating a new medical system together with the government."