Presidential Office: "Expanding Medical School Quotas by 2,000 is a Very Conservative Estimate" (Update)

"Periodic Estimation of Physician Workforce Demand"
Requesting Cooperation from the Medical Community

Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office at the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on medical school expansion on the afternoon of the 8th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office stated on the 8th that the government's plan to increase medical school quotas by 2,000 is a very conservative estimate compared to the demand.

A senior official from the Presidential Office met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon and said, "Starting next year, the medical school quota will be increased by 2,000, resulting in an increase of 10,000 by 2035, but this estimated number still falls short by 5,000."

The official emphasized, "Considering the increase in medical demand due to aging and regional clinical needs, the demand for doctors can increase significantly," adding, "This is a very conservative estimate." The government plans to periodically estimate the demand for medical personnel.

He explained, "Doctors who conduct clinical research alongside advanced medical fields are key to properly fostering these areas," and added, "Unfortunately, while major overseas countries such as the United States, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom have been steadily increasing medical school quotas to address aging and infectious disease response, we have maintained a state where medical school quotas have been decreasing for a long time."

The official said, "Since the increase in 1998, the quota has not been increased by even one for 27 years, and rather, after the separation of prescribing and dispensing medicines, it was reduced by 351 to 3,058," adding, "The quota has been decreasing for 19 years, and if you accumulate that number, it amounts to about 7,000."

He also expressed concern, saying, "Past governments have postponed the difficult issue of expanding medical school quotas for over 30 years, and as a result, the public suffers from doctor shortages manifested in emergency room overcrowding, pediatric department 'open runs,' and medical tourism," adding, "South Korea's healthcare is heading toward a serious situation."

The official diagnosed, "On one hand, by 2035, doctors aged 70 or older will account for 20%, indicating that the medical workforce itself is aging," and said, "This situation threatens both supply and demand sides."

He continued, "If we do not correct the collapsing healthcare system, South Korea has no future," and earnestly requested the medical community's cooperation, saying, "I sincerely ask the medical community to think about and participate in South Korea's future together."