Ajou University Ophthalmology Professor's Resignation: "Hard to Endure Undemocratic Pushy Attitude"

Posted Resignation Letter on Hospital Internal Network

Amid conflicts over the increase in medical school quotas, an ophthalmology professor at Ajou University Hospital has announced his resignation.

According to the medical community on the 9th, Professor A of the ophthalmology department at Ajou University Hospital stated on the hospital's internal network the day before, "I now wish to step down from my position as a professor at Ajou University Hospital," adding, "It was truly unbearable to endure the undemocratic push-throughs and unlawful threats that completely ignored the voices of the residents."

Professor A emphasized, "As a doctor treating patients, a professor teaching students and residents, and as a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I am deeply distressed by the strong sense of helplessness in this enormous situation," and added, "I want to let it be known that even as a powerless professor, I wanted to share their (residents and medical students) frustration."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also strongly criticized Ajou University for requesting the Ministry of Education to significantly increase the number of new medical students. He continued, "Applying for an increase to 144 students is not the attitude of a responsible adult," and pointed out, "Even knowing that being threatened by the government, being condemned by the public as despicable people, and that all the efforts made so far could be in vain, the university coldly letting go of their hands without turning back is an attitude that a teacher or a colleague walking the same path cannot show."

Earlier, on the 4th, Ajou University requested the Ministry of Education to increase the medical school admission quota from the existing 40 students to 144 students, an increase of 104. Professor A criticized the hospital officials at Ajou University Hospital, saying, "If the attitude you have shown so far continues, not only I but other valuable colleagues will gradually be lost." He concluded his statement by saying, "I want to resign, leaving behind the irresponsible words that I am sorry for not being able to support and protect the residents and students as a teacher."

An Ajou University Hospital official said, "The status of professors' resignation submissions and approvals is internal information and cannot be disclosed."