I Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association, Officially Steps Down... "Deep Regret Over the Current Situation"

Resignation One Week After Medical School Quota Expansion Announcement
"I Think It Is Only Right to Take Responsibility and Resign"

Lee Pil-su, the president of the Korean Medical Association, held his official retirement ceremony. It was about a week after he announced his resignation on the 6th.

Lee Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association, is speaking at the official retirement ceremony held on the 14th at the KMA Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Korean Medical Association]

On the morning of the 14th, the Korean Medical Association held Lee's official retirement ceremony at the main auditorium of the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Lee stated, "I believe I must take responsibility for the great disappointment and concern caused to the members by this announcement and therefore must naturally resign."

He said, "As president, I tried to maximize the rights and interests of our members through negotiation and communication and to create a medical association that moves forward with the people, but I had to take responsibility as president for this outcome," adding, "With the spirit of serving quietly, I will always sacrifice, dedicate, and stand together at the lowest level for the development of our medical community."

Earlier, on the 6th, Lee announced his intention to resign immediately after the government announced the expansion of medical school admissions by 2,000 students next year. In his message titled 'A Letter to the Members of the Korean Medical Association,' he said, "With a heavy and dismal heart, I humbly accept the concerns and criticisms of the members," and "I deeply regret all the current situations and now wish to relinquish all my authority and roles as the president of the KMA."

Lee was elected as the 41st president in May 2021 and served as president for nearly three years. The KMA has formed an 'Emergency Countermeasures Committee to Stop Medical School Expansion' and plans to hold rallies across the country through city and provincial medical associations on the 15th, followed by a general meeting on the 17th to discuss plans for collective action.