Yoon's National Address on Medical Reform Today: "Explanation on Doctor Increase Progress" (Comprehensive)

Interest in Whether the Policy on Expansion Scale Will Change

President Yoon Suk-yeol will clarify his detailed stance on medical reform through a national address on the 1st. Attention is focused on whether the policy to expand the quota by 2,000 students will change, as the government has already announced the allocation of quotas by university.

The presidential office spokesperson said in a press release on the night of the 31st of last month, "There are still many opinions that the public is curious about the progress of medical reform and the increase in the number of doctors, so the president will explain in detail directly through 'A Message to the People' tomorrow." This national address is scheduled to be broadcast live from the Yongsan Presidential Office on the morning of the 1st.

This will be President Yoon's third national address. Previously, President Yoon made national addresses in October 2022 regarding the Itaewon tragedy and in November last year concerning the failure to secure the Busan Expo.

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Cheongju Korea Hospital on the afternoon of the 26th and received an explanation about the Cardiovascular Center from the head of the hospital's Cardiovascular Center. [Image source=Yonhap News]

It appears that the judgment is that the prolonged medical gap, which has intensified public anxiety due to delayed surgeries and treatments as well as incidents such as a 33-month-old baby falling into a ditch and dying after being refused transfer to a higher-level hospital, cannot be left unattended.

Although communication between the government and medical organizations was urged, it is also observed that there is an intention to directly break through the situation as negotiations have not been achieved.

Earlier, after President Yoon asked Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the 24th of last month to handle the suspension of medical residents' licenses flexibly, he repeatedly emphasized close communication with medical professionals, but the government and the medical community are still at odds over the key issue of the scale of medical school quota expansion.

Moreover, with the general election just ten days away, even within the ruling party, there are calls for President Yoon to show flexibility regarding the scale of medical school quota expansion. Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stated on the 26th of last month, "We need to have constructive dialogue without limiting the agenda to reach a good conclusion."

Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo also appeared on a broadcast on the 27th of last month and mentioned that if the government forcibly increases the medical school quota by 2,000 next year, a 'medical collapse' will occur.

However, it is uncertain whether President Yoon will change his position on the scale of medical school quota expansion. President Yoon has consistently maintained that the increase of 2,000 is based on scientific data and is the minimum necessary increase, as stated in cabinet meetings and public forums.

Even at the most recent cabinet meeting held on the 26th of last month, President Yoon emphasized, "The expansion of medical school quotas is the starting point of medical reform," and "With the quota size confirmed by each university, the minimum necessary condition for medical reform has been established." Therefore, he is likely to reaffirm the existing policy and deliver a persuasive message to medical professionals once again.

The presidential office is cautious about revealing specific details of the address. One official said, "It would be better to watch the address and make a judgment directly."