Presidential Office: "We Can Change the Number 2000 If Rational Grounds Are Presented Without Being Fixed on the Figure"

Sung Tae-yoon, Policy Director, "Not an Absolute Figure"
"Will Invest for a Proper System"

Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office at the Presidential Office Photo by Yonhap News

The Presidential Office stated on the 1st, "The government is not fixated on the figure of 2,000 and is open to changing government policy in a better direction if better opinions and reasonable grounds, including the scale of medical school expansion, are presented."

Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon appeared on KBS that evening to explain President Yoon Seok-yeol's address to the nation and mentioned that there is room to adjust the previously upheld figure of 2,000.

In response to the host's question, "Can the figure of 2,000 be a subject of negotiation?" Chief Seong replied, "The position that 2,000 is an absolute number is not the case."

However, he emphasized, "Since this number was derived through a long process, policies cannot be changed arbitrarily to 1,500 or 1,700 without grounds just because stakeholders oppose it," adding, "If the medical community does not engage in collective action but instead presents a reasonable adjustment plan with evidence, we will approach it with a humble attitude."

When the host remarked, "It seems the Presidential Office's stance is somewhat progressive," Chief Seong explained, "We can review the issue of medical school expansion more flexibly and proactively."

Regarding whether preconditions are necessary for dialogue, Chief Seong said, "It is important to present reasonable proposals for reconsideration," and requested, "During this process, please refrain from the current illegal collective actions and return to the side of the patients." He further elaborated, "Ultimately, we hope for discussions on how to create the most desirable direction for our country."

On the approach to consultations with the medical community, Chief Seong stated, "We have left messages to the residents who have left the field to initiate dialogue, contacted them through third parties, waited by leaving dates and locations, and are making various efforts," adding, "What I want to emphasize to the residents is that, as the President mentioned in today's address, we will invest to create a proper medical system through medical reform."

He particularly noted, "Residents have been working under difficult circumstances," and added, "Since we aim to improve the overall medical environment so that residents can work smoothly and feel rewarded, we hope they will stop collective actions and work together with the government to find ways for the residents themselves and for the lives and health of the people."

Regarding the 'social consultative body' proposed by President Yoon in his address, Chief Seong explained that it would be "a social consultative body involving various members such as the public, the medical community, experts, patients, consumer groups, and the government, as medical reform affects the entire nation."