Despite Government Concessions, Medical School Conflict Escalates... Government States "No Change in Position"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Amid the medical community's continued call for a 'reconsideration from the beginning' despite the government's plan to partially reduce the increase in medical school admissions next year, the government has entered a period of deliberation to find a solution.

A government official stated on the 23rd, "The government's position remains unchanged." Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged at the morning Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office, "Please ensure that there is no neglect in clearly clarifying and thoroughly explaining the facts regarding government policies."

Earlier, on the 19th, the government announced that, as a one-year measure, universities would be allowed to autonomously determine the number of increased medical school admissions within a range of 50-100%, accepting the proposal from presidents of national universities outside the metropolitan area. However, the medical community maintained the principle that the increase of 2,000 students itself must be reconsidered from the beginning, causing the compromise to fail.

If the resignation letters submitted by medical school professors nationwide, which began on the 25th of last month, take effect starting from the 25th of this month, marking one month, the medical service gap is expected to worsen. The schedule for next year's university admissions is also problematic. According to the government's adjustment plan, universities with increased medical school quotas must finalize their 2025 academic year admissions plans by the end of this month. Given the current situation, this is expected to be difficult.

The government plans to hold the first meeting of the Presidential Commission on Medical Reform this week. The government maintains that reconsideration from the beginning is impossible, while medical organizations such as resident groups and the Korean Medical Association reject both the special commission and the university autonomous recruitment plan, suggesting that the medical service gap will deepen for the time being.

On the 22nd, medical staff were moving at a large hospital in Seoul where some former residents who had left the hospital along with residents in protest against the increase in medical school admissions returned. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@