[Inside Chodong] Medical Organizations Alone Fail to See Their Predicament, Must Accept Medical Reform

The conflict between the medical community and the government over the increase in medical school admissions has entered a new phase. Most universities with increased medical school quotas have completed submitting their college admission plans reflecting the increased numbers, while the Korean Medical Association has shifted to a 'hardline' leadership, and the government, which had been cornered, has gained new momentum by securing a political ally in the form of the 'major opposition party.'

For the government, which has failed to persuade for three months and shown limitations in both negotiation and policy inclusiveness, this change clearly represents an opportunity. Various public opinion polls show that 70-80% of the public still support the increase, and even the Democratic Party leader, who had consistently criticized the policy, has offered support, making it almost as if a 'social consensus' has been secured.

Above all, the scale of the increase in medical school admissions for the 2025 academic year has been virtually finalized. Among the 32 universities with increased medical school quotas, those that have not yet finalized their recruitment numbers have been excluded, and the rest have completed submitting their college admission plans reflecting the increase. Although the Korea Council for University Education's review remains, since the review was originally scheduled for mid-month, there is little chance that the finalization will be delayed or changed. The Seoul High Court's request during the injunction appeal hearing on the medical school quota increase, asking not to approve it until mid-month, is unlikely to be a variable. Procedurally, the university education council's review results must come first, so it is widely expected that reversing the increase itself will be difficult.

Meanwhile, the bipartisan political support secured for the medical school quota increase has become the most important driving force in this medical-government conflict. With Lee Jae-myung's message of 'cooperation on medical school quota increase,' the claims by medical organizations that "the nullification of the increase reflects the will of the people in the general election" inevitably lose strength.

Nevertheless, their selfish actions show no sign of stopping. Im Hyun-taek, the newly appointed president of the Korean Medical Association, who declared he was 'prepared to die,' held the first standing committee meeting on his first day in office and warned of a struggle, saying, "We will make the government realize how wrong and pathetic its policy is." Since he initially argued that the quota should be reduced by 500 to 1,000 due to low birth rates and, immediately after his election, set the president's apology and the dismissal of the Minister of Health and Welfare as conditions for dialogue, it is clear that this hardline stance will continue.

At an emergency symposium held by Seoul National University medical professors who went on a collective strike, even abusive remarks such as "Let's fight fascism" were made. It is doubtful whether those who have turned their backs on patients and shifted responsibility to the government, claiming that "only increasing the number of doctors is a deceptive banner of true medical reform that mocks the public," still have any willingness to engage in dialogue.

Therefore, it is now time for the political sphere to address the justification for medical reform and the problems in its implementation process. The National Assembly, which had been passive due to the general election, could take a breakthrough role by mediating between the government and the medical community, especially led by the opposition party.

The special parliamentary committee for public discussion involving both ruling and opposition parties and the medical community, as requested by the Democratic Party, also requires positive consideration. If the medical organizations, which disparaged both the government and Lee Jae-myung by saying they were "likely swayed by misguided voices around them," continue to call for 'nullification of the increase' even in the special committee, they will find it difficult to maintain even their remaining legitimacy.

Medical organizations must stop choosing self-isolation. They criticize the government for "portraying the medical community as a shameless vested interest group only after money," but there is little time left before patients, residents, and medical students suffer. With the political sphere also turning a blind eye, even now, instead of insisting that 'not a single person can be added,' they must accept medical reform for the sake of patients and doctors. / Social Affairs Department Deputy Chief Reporter Bae Kyunghwan