Government: "2025 Quotas Not Subject to Negotiation... Urges Withdrawal of Medical Leave"

Statement on the First Meeting of the Medical Sector Special Committee

The government reiterated its call for dialogue with the medical community, emphasizing that "the medical school quota for 2025 is not subject to negotiation."

On the 20th, the Korea Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The Korea Medical Association announced that instead of launching the "Pan-Medical Community Countermeasures Committee (Pan Committee)" as previously planned, it will launch the "Special Committee for Proper Medical Care (Special Committee)." Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated after the first meeting of the Special Committee for Proper Medical Care (Olteukwi) that "the government is willing to discuss at any time regardless of format or agenda," and urged, "We hope the Korea Medical Association will also come to the dialogue table unconditionally and participate in discussions on medical issues."

It further emphasized, "The procedure for the 2025 medical school quota has already been completed, so it is not subject to negotiation."

This position from the Ministry of Health and Welfare follows the Olteukwi's statement after the meeting welcoming "the government's stance that dialogue is possible regardless of format or agenda." Olteukwi also expressed willingness to participate in medical policy discussions including the 2025 quota, but the ministry clearly opposed this.

Regarding Olteukwi's announcement that day, "We respect the predetermined strike plans of Yonsei University College of Medicine and Ulsan University College of Medicine. Going forward, we agreed to establish a systematic strike plan together rather than individual struggles by each profession," the ministry also urged the medical community to withdraw from collective strikes.

The ministry said, "Yesterday, the Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital emergency committee decided to 'indefinitely suspend strikes,' and the Korea Medical Association also expressed willingness to engage in dialogue," adding, "We hope other hospitals that have announced strikes will also withdraw their decisions on collective strikes."

Professors affiliated with Severance Hospital, the training hospital of Yonsei University College of Medicine, announced they will begin an indefinite strike starting on the 27th. Professors at Seoul Asan Hospital, the training hospital of Ulsan University College of Medicine, also resolved to strike for one week starting from the 4th of next month.