Presidential Office: "Possible to Reduce Medical Students by 2,000... National University Presidents Did Not Present Reasonable Plans" (Update)

Consider Next Year's Admission Process "Must Decide Quickly"

Medical staff are moving at a university hospital in Seoul on the 15th amid escalating conflicts between the medical community and the government, as residents who resigned in opposition to the government's medical reform policy are threatening to file complaints against Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government will actively accept the request from the presidents of national universities to allow adjustments to the scale of medical school enrollment increases, and will move away from the previously maintained reduction of 2,000 seats. This decision is expected to be discussed and announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at the Government Seoul Office on the afternoon of the 19th.

A senior official from the Presidential Office told Asia Economy on the same day, "Regarding the increase of 2,000 medical school seats, we can think flexibly without being fixated on the number," adding, "Since the schedule for next year's admission process is approaching, a quick decision is necessary."

Earlier, the presidents of six major national universities?Kangwon National University, Kyungpook National University, Gyeongsang National University, Chungnam National University, Chungbuk National University, and Jeju National University?sent a proposal to the Ministry of Education requesting that each university be allowed to autonomously recruit 50% to 100% of the increased medical school seats for the 2025 academic year. This request for autonomy is interpreted as effectively opening the possibility of reducing the scale.

In response, a Presidential Office official said, "The presidents of national universities with medical schools have brought a proposal that they can reasonably consider, so we are reviewing it positively," adding, "By granting autonomy, it is a plan that can preserve the purpose of increasing medical school enrollment."

In particular, the official expressed the view that a quick decision is necessary as universities must submit their admission implementation plans for next year to the Korea Council for University Education by the end of this month, and time is tight. If the conflict between the medical and government sectors continues without finding a solution, it could only increase confusion among examinees.

The Presidential Office official explained, "The deadline for the admission implementation plan is approaching rapidly, and now is the time when the scale of medical school enrollment can be adjusted without difficulty, so it must be done quickly (before it is too late)," adding, "It is expected to be decided at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters."

He continued, "We have repeatedly requested a unified proposal from the medical community, but they are either asking for 'zero increase' or a complete re-discussion, which we cannot accept," adding, "At this point, since the presidents of national universities have brought a reasonable proposal, we view it positively."