Residents, "Next Year's Reduced Recruitment Is Meaningless, Reconsider from the Beginning"

Government Allows Recruitment Increase of 50~100%
"We Must Discuss from the Beginning to Return"

The government has allowed individual universities to adjust the scale of medical school admissions for new students next year, but residents have stated that they will maintain their original position of reconsidering the issue from the beginning.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended a special briefing on the increase of medical school quotas held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th, where he explained the government's position on the adjustment of medical school quotas proposed by the presidents of key national universities.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 19th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced at a special briefing following the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting, "Considering the educational conditions of each university, among the 32 universities where medical school quotas were expanded this year, those wishing to do so will be allowed to autonomously recruit new students within the range of 50% to 100% of the increased number for the 2025 academic year only."

Earlier, the presidents of six national universities?Kangwon National University, Kyungpook National University, Gyeongsang National University, Chungnam National University, Chungbuk National University, and Jeju National University?had requested the Ministry of Education the day before, saying, "For the 2025 academic year university admissions, please take necessary measures to allow autonomous recruitment of new medical school students within 50% to 100% of the increased quotas, considering each university's own circumstances."

Residents raised their voices to maintain their existing stance regarding the government's announcement. Jung Geun-young, former representative of residents at Bundang CHA Hospital, said, "We will maintain our original position that a reconsideration from the beginning is necessary," adding, "Only if reconsidered from the beginning will residents be able to return first."

He continued, "This announcement ironically seems to prove that the figure of 2,000 was unscientific and meaningless."

Ryu Ok-ha-da, former intern representative at the Catholic Central Medical Center, also said, "I earnestly ask that experts and those in the field be listened to even now," adding, "Medical care is not a market negotiation but a matter of human lives."

A former resident at Sajik, who requested anonymity, said, "This announcement is worse than doing nothing," and added, "Adjustments made without discussions with the Korean Medical Association or residents are meaningless."

Criticism also poured in from the medical community beyond residents. Im Hyun-taek, president-elect of the Korean Medical Association, drew a line by saying in the morning, "It is a better stance than before, but it is not something the association can act on," and added, "This proposal ultimately acknowledges that even the presidents of national universities admit that medical education cannot be properly conducted due to the increase."

Former Korean Medical Association president Joo Su-ho also wrote on his personal social media, "Is the best they can think of to reduce a few hundred by using puppet presidents?" and stated, "'It was a wrong decision based on wrong policy advice. There is no way out but to reconsider from the beginning.'"