'Medical School Expansion' Countdown... Korea "Medical Reform Must Be Completed" (Update)

Law's Request to Suspend Medical School Expansion Rejected and Dismissed
Han Deok-su: "Major Hurdle Overcome in Medical School Expansion and Healthcare Reform"
Completion of University Admission Procedures, Advancement of Education Quality

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo expressed his deep gratitude for the judiciary's wise decision to dismiss and reject the medical community's request for a suspension of enforcement regarding the increase in medical school admissions, stating, "I will fulfill the medical reform with a sense of mission."

On the 16th, Prime Minister Han, in a public address at the Government Seoul Office, said, "The 7th Administrative Division of the Seoul High Court dismissed and partially rejected the appeal for suspension of enforcement filed by 18 individuals including medical school professors, residents, medical students, and examinees," adding, "The court rejected the suspension request from medical school students citing 'concerns of significant impact on public welfare,' and dismissed the requests from the other applicants due to 'lack of standing.'” He continued, "Although the main lawsuit remains, today's decision marks a major hurdle overcome for the increase in medical school admissions and medical reform."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho, and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong are delivering a public address regarding medical school quotas at the Government Seoul Office on the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government plans to support the Korea Council for University Education to approve the university admission screening implementation plan and announce the recruitment numbers by the end of this month as originally scheduled. Prime Minister Han stated, "The government will first promptly proceed with the revision of university regulations and confirmation of recruitment numbers by each university," and added, "The revision of university regulations according to the government's decision to increase medical school quotas is a mandatory obligation that universities must follow under the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act. Universities that are still revising their regulations or require re-examination should complete this promptly in accordance with legal obligations."

He also dismissed concerns about the quality of education. Prime Minister Han emphasized, "Some in the medical community worry that increasing admissions by 2,000 will degrade the quality of medical education, but we will ensure that such a thing never happens." He further explained, "On the contrary, we will use this opportunity to establish and implement advanced medical education improvement plans to create educational conditions at the level of developed countries. In April, we surveyed the demand for educational environment improvements at 32 medical schools that had already increased their quotas, and we are preparing plans for concentrated investment of resources and the additional hiring of 1,000 professors at national universities."

Prime Minister Han also mentioned that some medical school professors are threatening to suspend medical services for a week in protest of the court's decision, criticizing, "The practice of collective action holding patients' lives hostage will no longer be accepted by the public." Addressing the medical community, he urged, "Please end the futile conflicts and confrontations with the government and participate in constructive dialogue and discussions for the future of health care. Regardless of the position on complete cancellation, I hope you will join the Medical Reform Special Committee. I believe that the medical community and the government share the same heart for medical advancement and patient protection."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho, and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong are greeting after announcing a public address regarding medical school quotas at the Government Seoul Office on the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, Prime Minister Han expressed, "I am grateful to the medical staff who have protected the medical field, and above all, I am proud to be able to deliver good news to the citizens who have sick family members at home," emphasizing again, "Although the unresolved challenge of collective action by the medical community remains, the court's decision has allowed our citizens and government to overcome a major obstacle blocking medical reform."

He continued, "If we stop here because it is difficult or hard, our descendants will soon face greater suffering and higher costs," and concluded, "With a sense of mission, we will complete medical reform so that the pain we are experiencing now does not grow larger and get passed on to future generations."