KMA: "President Can Solve Issues... Please Change Medical Reform Policy"

"Stop Increasing Medical School Quotas and Reconsider in a Rational and Objective Body"

The medical community expressed regret over President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration to continue pursuing medical reform and urged him to change the medical reform policy.

Kim Seong-geun, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee for Public Relations of the Korean Medical Association. / Photo by Choi Tae-won peaceful1@

The Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) held a regular briefing at 3 p.m. on the 17th at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and made this statement. Kim Seong-geun, the KMA Emergency Committee's Media and Public Relations Chair, said, "Yesterday was the first time the president made a statement since the general election. However, it was regrettable that there was almost no mention of the current deadlock between the medical community and the government in his statement," adding, "I believe the president is well aware that the current situation cannot be resolved simply by mentioning medical reform and saying that more attention will be paid to reasonable opinions."

He continued, "To achieve medical reform, there are numerous tasks that the medical community, government, and society must immediately sit down together to discuss and decide," and added, "To resolve these issues promptly, the ongoing deadlock caused by the policy to increase medical school quotas cannot continue."

Earlier, President Yoon stated at a Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, "Structural reforms for the future of the Republic of Korea cannot be stopped," and "We will continue to pursue medical reform while paying more attention to reasonable opinions" regarding the conflict between the medical community and the government.

Concerns were also raised about the medical gap that would occur if residents do not return. Kim said, "If residents do not return, 2,800 specialists will not be produced next year," adding, "If these specialists are not properly released into society, the military medical system will be shaken in the near term, and public health doctors will not be produced. The resident training system will also become uncertain as to when it will normalize."

He also urged President Yoon to change the medical reform policy. Kim said, "I believe the person who can solve the current problem is the president," and requested, "Please stop increasing medical school quotas and change the policy so that the issue can be newly discussed by a reasonable and objective organization."