Yoon: "Double DJ's Judicial Exam Pass Rate to Advance Rule of Law... Medical School Quota Expansion Essential"

On the 20th, citizens at the Seoul Station waiting room watched President Yoon Seok-yeol's opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting regarding the collective action of doctors opposing the increase in medical school admissions. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

President Yoon Suk-yeol highlighted the necessity of increasing the number of medical students on the 27th, citing the example of the expansion of judicial examination passers during former President Kim Dae-jung's (DJ) administration.

At the 6th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House State Guest House that afternoon, President Yoon stated, "Increasing the number of doctors is an essential condition for medical reform to overcome our healthcare crisis," emphasizing, "There is no solution without first increasing the numbers."

He added, "President Kim Dae-jung doubled the number of judicial examination passers. At that time, people said the increase was 'too much,'" mentioning, "In the past, fewer than 100 were selected, then it increased to 300, 500, and under President Kim, it rose to 1,000." He continued, "As the number of lawyers increased, legal experts took positions in all areas of society, leading to rapid development of the rule of law."

President Yoon compared this situation to the current medical environment, pointing out, "The essential medical system has completely collapsed because the number of doctors was restricted and reduced."

He said, "When the number of doctors decreases, they all flock to high-income non-reimbursable services," identifying cosmetic surgery as a representative non-reimbursable item. He added, "Market principles should be allowed to operate so that fierce competition can occur, but the number of doctors has decreased by 350 per year for 20 years, resulting in 7,000 fewer doctors who should be actively practicing now."

President Yoon perceives that in an already doctor-shortage situation, doctors concentrating in the cosmetic field to secure income inevitably damages essential medical care.

Regarding the increase in medical students, President Yoon emphasized, "When the government creates reasonable systems for liability insurance, medical dispute mediation and arbitration, and public policy fees to support them, it can guarantee the right for all regions to receive balanced medical care."