President Yoon Emphasizes Need to Increase 2,000 Personnel in Statement
Medical Association: "Disappointment as Great as Expectations"
Amid 'Strong vs. Strong Confrontation,' Situation Remains Uncertain Even After General Election
Despite nearly a month and a half of collective action by the medical community opposing the government's plan to increase medical school admissions, the government remains steadfast on the 'increase of 2,000 medical school quotas,' indicating that the conflict between the medical sector and the government is expected to be prolonged. Some had hoped for a resolution around the general election on the 10th, but amid a standoff of strong wills, the situation has become even more uncertain.
On the 1st, amid the prolonged medical-government conflict over the plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students, citizens at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, are watching President Yoon Seok-yeol's national address regarding healthcare reform. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
On this day, President Yoon Suk-yeol, in a national address titled "A Message to the People" at the Yongsan Presidential Office, stated, "The figure of 2,000 is the minimum increase carefully calculated by the government, and we have had sufficient discussions with medical organizations and the medical community before deciding this," firmly rejecting the possibility of canceling or reconsidering the 2,000 medical school quota increase as demanded by the medical community.
He also said, "Previous governments fought this battle nine times and lost all nine, and the doctors' occupational cartel has only become more entrenched," adding, "We can no longer afford to repeat such failures." This is interpreted as a refusal to compromise with the medical community over the 2,000 quota increase.
He emphasized that the policy is not being pursued based on political gains or losses. However, President Yoon left the door open for dialogue by saying to the medical community, "If you propose a unified plan to the government, we can discuss it if it is reasonable and rational."
However, the medical community harshly criticized the president's address as "disappointing." Above all, since the medical community has set the "withdrawal of the increase" as a precondition for dialogue, it remains unclear how talks will proceed following the reaffirmation of the intention to increase the quota by 2,000 in the president's statement. The medical community did not even issue an official comment on the president's address that day.
The Korean Medical Association's Emergency Response Committee harshly criticized, saying, "The address was more disappointing than expected given the high hopes we had."
Kim Seong-geun, the Korean Medical Association Emergency Response Committee's media spokesperson, said at a regular briefing on the 1st, "There was nothing different from previous government announcements" regarding the president's address. He said, "All citizens and 120,000 doctors were expecting that a clue to resolving the current medical-government standoff would be presented, but we could not find any difference from previous government announcements in the address." He added, "Although it was said that there were many discussions with the medical community about increasing medical school quotas, reviewing the content shows that the medical community's opinions were not considered at all."
He criticized, "South Korea's healthcare shows some of the best indicators even by OECD standards. I have said that with a little attention and investment, along with legal safeguards and support measures for patients and doctors, many of the issues pointed out could be resolved starting now. However, only the 2,000 increase in medical school quotas, which I have said is not the solution, is repeatedly mentioned, which is frustrating."
He continued, "Many of the points in the address simply reiterate the content we have already refuted with various data in previous Emergency Response Committee announcements," adding, "Therefore, there is no reason to further rebut."
Kim urged, "I ask the wise citizens to gather correct opinions so that our government can choose the right path."
In the subsequent Q&A, Kim said, "Since the Korean Medical Association has expressed its position several times, there is no need to state it again regarding the address," and "We only issue comments when there is something to comment on, gathering opinions from each sector, but that was not possible."
When asked if there were any behind-the-scenes contacts with the government, ruling party, or opposition parties, he replied, "Behind-the-scenes contacts would imply a desire to resolve the issue, but as far as I know, there is currently nothing of that sort."
The National Association of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop) also held a briefing that afternoon but did not issue a separate comment on President Yoon's address regarding the medical school quota increase. Jeonui Gyohyeop plans to hold an emergency online general meeting at 7 p.m. that day to discuss the president's address.
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