Seoul National University College of Medicine Professors: "Government Must Take Responsibility for Medical School Expansion at Hearing"

The Emergency Response Committee of the Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital Professors' Association stated that the government must transparently clarify its responsibility at the National Assembly hearing regarding the promotion of medical school enrollment expansion.

The Emergency Response Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine professors said on the 19th, "We welcome the decision to hold a legislative hearing related to the medical crisis," and emphasized, "At the hearing, the policy decision process including the increase in medical school quotas and whether the government failed to fulfill its responsibilities during that process must be transparently revealed."

Kang Hee-kyung, Chairperson of the Emergency Measures Committee of the Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital Professors' Association, is expressing her position at the Emergency Measures Committee press conference held on the afternoon of the 14th at Yang Yoon-sun Hall, Convergence Building, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Earlier, the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee decided to hold a hearing on the 26th to discuss issues in the process of promoting medical school enrollment expansion and measures against the collective strike situation.

The Emergency Response Committee pointed out, "The government, after throwing policies that did not reflect field opinions and deliberation processes like a bomb, has proven nothing but incompetence and irresponsibility without offering any solutions," and added, "It is questionable what role the National Assembly, which is responsible for reflecting public opinion and checking the government, has played over the past four months."

They continued, "Seeing the incompetent and irresponsible government, we place our hopes once again on the newly started 22nd National Assembly," and requested, "We ask the National Assembly to take an active role for the swift resolution of the situation."

Witnesses for the hearing include Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, Lee Ki-il and Park Min-su, 1st and 2nd Vice Ministers, and Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs of the Presidential Office. Medical professionals such as Kang Hee-kyung, Chairperson of the Emergency Response Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital professors, were selected as reference witnesses.