[Interview] Im Jeongmuk, President of Seoul National University Professors' Council: "Doctors Should Return to Hospitals, Government Must Engage in Dialogue"

Proposal for Open Negotiation Table Solution
Need to Increase Medical School Quotas Due to Doctor Shortage Reality
Government and Medical Community Demand 'Transparent Information Disclosure'

Lim Jeong-mook, chairman of the Seoul National University Professors' Council, commented on the medical community's collective action in response to the government's increase in medical school quotas, saying, "The government should lift measures that provoke doctors, and doctors should return to hospitals," adding, "At the very least, like labor-management negotiations, I hope they set a deadline and engage in frank dialogue."

Im Jeong-mook, President of the Seoul National University Professors' Association. [Image source=Im Jeong-mook, President of the Seoul National University Professors' Association Facebook]

In an interview with Asia Economy on the 21st, Chairman Lim said, "From the general public's perspective, it's like shrimps getting crushed in a whale fight," and urged, "They should not be too extreme and should come to the negotiating table."

The Seoul National University Professors' Council is a self-governing body of all professors established in 1960. The chairman of the council is the representative of the professors and is elected by direct vote of all full-time professors, unlike the indirect election of the university president. Chairman Lim graduated from Seoul National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and earned his Ph.D. from Okayama University in Japan. He has worked as a researcher at the University of Louisiana in the United States, at CHA University, and is currently a professor in the Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Seoul National University.

On the 19th, amid the intense standoff between the government and the medical community, the Seoul National University Professors' Council unusually issued a statement. Chairman Lim explained the background for the council’s position, saying, "As doctors keep leaving hospitals, the public feels anxious, and patients in urgent need are suffering. This is why public opinion is unfavorable toward doctors," and added, "From the professors' standpoint, it is natural to prevent harm to doctors and students. We also cannot ignore the harm to the public."

Chairman Lim acknowledged that the shortage of doctors is a reality and that expanding medical school quotas is necessary. He said, "The clear fact is that there is currently a shortage of doctors. Whether it is an absolute shortage of doctors or a distribution issue is debatable," but suggested, "The solution is simple. We need to proceed by thoroughly reviewing everything, including the current doctor status and demand forecasts, the impact on admissions and education, and social and regional development aspects."

On the 21st, concerns over a medical crisis are growing due to the collective resignation and work stoppage of residents opposing the increase in medical school quotas. A notice about the shortage of medical staff is posted in the emergency room of a university hospital in downtown Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, he expressed concern that a rapid increase in medical school quotas could cause side effects. Chairman Lim said, "Generally, medical schools focus on practical training. For example, securing medical personnel and cadavers must be perfectly arranged," adding, "Currently, some regional medical schools are closing or struggling, which is a cause. We must carefully assess human and material infrastructure to prevent deterioration of medical education."

He also pointed out, "In Korea, elementary, middle, and high school education is exam-oriented, causing tremendous stress for parents and students," and warned, "Children who cannot enter medical schools may be hurt, while those who do might develop unnecessary pride."

Ultimately, he emphasized that transparent information disclosure by both the government and the medical community must come first. Chairman Lim said, "The starting point for dialogue is information sharing. The government claims the numbers are well-analyzed, while doctors disagree, which is the root of the problem. Both the government and medical community must present accurate data and evidence," and criticized, "The government seems unwilling to compromise below 2,000, and doctors also seem unwilling to accept it. They are like trains running toward each other. Each side insists on going their own way, leading to a catastrophe. In the end, only the public suffers."

As a solution, he proposed an "open negotiation table" that could convince the public. Chairman Lim said, "Both sides should present their research and reconcile differences while showing the process to the public," adding, "The number could be 500 or 3,000. If it is truly a distribution issue, an increase might not be necessary. Both the government and medical community need to trust each other and start discussions from scratch."

He also viewed that addressing the shortage of essential and regional medical personnel requires additional measures beyond increasing medical school quotas. Chairman Lim said, "Medical students choose specialties like plastic surgery or dermatology because of economic stability and fewer medical accidents, prioritizing their right to survive. You cannot simply demand they prioritize public interest, and it is not just about medical fees," emphasizing, "The MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) ? who would want to work in rural areas if not doctors? Issues like regional extinction and employment must be addressed comprehensively at the national level. Approaching this simply will only lead to endless conflicts."