"At Least One Hospital Must Collapse"... Controversy Over Medical Student Parent's Post

Controversy Over Post in Online Community 'Uisaeng Hakbumo Moim'
Claims to Maintain Strong Resistance Against Government
Also Encourages Collective Action Saying "Let's Go Comment"

Amid ongoing opposition from the medical community to the increase in medical school quotas, parents of medical students are engaging in collective actions by posting messages supporting mass strikes on online communities.

On February 20, a post titled "The time is not ripe yet. At least one hospital must collapse" was uploaded to the online community "Parents of Medical Students." The author, presumed to be a parent of a medical student named A, said, "Is the time our children (medical students) are sacrificing now really a waste?" and added, "If you think about it differently, our children cannot just bow down and return as lifelong medical slaves of the country without compensation for the time they have lost."

On the afternoon of the 18th, participants hold placards at the National Doctors' General Rally held on Yeouidaero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The community was established in February, when the government announced the increase in medical school quotas, and is known to be composed of parents of medical students. Full membership requires verification with a medical student ID or a medical license.

In the post, A stated, "(The medical school leave of absence movement) represents the unified will of over 20,000 of the country's top talents. It is a collective power that even the government cannot control," and urged, "Please be proud of and trust the children who possess this power," insisting that a firm stance must be maintained.

Community members who read the post expressed agreement with comments such as, "Since the sword has been drawn, we must see it through. We will hold the center until the end so that the time endured is not wasted," "As parents, it is not our role to push our children into slavery," and "The children are wiser and stronger than us. Let’s not get tired and continue to support and encourage them."

Although parents of medical students cannot directly participate in the recent medical-government conflicts, they are reportedly engaging in collective actions online by monitoring articles related to the expansion of medical school quotas and encouraging participation in opinion polls. On the medical parents’ community, many posts supporting a hardline stance have been uploaded, including criticism of Seoul National University Hospital professors who recently withdrew from the strike and messages cheering on Severance Hospital, which has announced a mass strike. Recently, they also showed solidarity with an article quoting Lee Guk-jong, director of the Daejeon Armed Forces Hospital, who said on the 19th, "Do you think increasing medical students will lead to more pediatricians?" and encouraged each other by saying, "Let’s go comment."

They also participated in the "National Doctors’ General Rally" hosted by the Korean Medical Association (KMA) on the 18th. At the rally, they wore blue hats with the phrase "Uihakmo" (Parents of Medical Students) and voiced their opposition to the increase in medical school quotas.