"Not Enough Capacity" Medical School Deans' Group Claims Refuted
"Major Medical School Quotas at Half the 1980s Level"
Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, responded to the medical school deans' association's claim that a 2,000-student increase in medical school admissions is unacceptable by comparing it to the enrollment numbers of major medical schools in the 1980s, stating that "a 2,000-student increase is a fully manageable scale."
On the morning of the 20th, at a briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City regarding the doctors' collective action Central Accident Response Headquarters, Vice Minister Park said, "Yesterday, the Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Graduate Schools expressed their position urging a reconsideration of the 2,000-student increase in medical school admissions," adding, "They claimed that 350 is the appropriate increase scale but did not provide any evidence."
He continued, "According to a demand survey conducted by the government across 40 universities, the range of 2,151 to 2,847 was submitted under the responsibility of the university presidents, considering the overall circumstances of the schools," and rebutted, "Even with a 2,000-student increase, there will be no decline in the quality of medical education."
Vice Minister Park once again emphasized the validity of the 2,000-student increase by comparing it to the enrollment numbers of major medical schools in the 1980s.
He stated, "Seoul National University College of Medicine had an enrollment of 260 at that time, now it is 135; Pusan National University had 208 then, now 125; and Kyungpook National University had 196 then, now 110, which is about half," adding, "On the other hand, the number of professors has increased significantly, and the current medical education environment has improved to an extent that cannot be compared to the past." He also explained, "In the case of Seoul National University College of Medicine, compared to 1985, as of 2023, the number of basic science professors has increased 2.5 times, and clinical professors have tripled. The government has reviewed the demand survey results and confirmed that even with an increase of 2,000 students, the current medical evaluation standards can be maintained."
He said, "With technological advancements such as simulation skill practice, more efficient education is also possible. We will also implement support policies to improve the quality of medical education," and concluded, "I reiterate that a 2,000-student increase is a fully manageable scale."
The day before, the Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Graduate Schools issued a statement demanding the Ministry of Health and Welfare withdraw the policy if it cannot provide evidence supporting the 2,000-student increase in medical school admissions. They criticized, "The figure of 2,000 is not only vastly different from the 350 increase proposed by our association on January 9 for the 2025 academic year admissions, but also an impossible number to accommodate in a short period considering the educational conditions of 40 medical schools and medical graduate schools nationwide," adding, "The (physician) workforce supply and demand policy must be carefully made based on long-term and scientific evidence looking 20 to 30 years ahead."
They further emphasized, "If the government’s original plan is executed, it will cause a setback to the level of medical education in our country, which has been raised to a world-class standard through decades of effort," and stressed, "We are concerned that not only will the quality of education for future incoming students be compromised, but the effects of substandard education will also impact current students."
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