Government "Maintain Medical School Expansion" vs Han Dong-hoon "Life Is Not a Risk to Take"... Parallel Lines Between Ruling Party and Government

At the meeting, government report on medical reform presented
Korea leaves without listening to government report, then returns to meeting
Seems to prepare for ruling-opposition leaders' talks with Lee Jae-myung

Government: "Public will be disappointed if medical school quotas change due to yielding to medical community"
Claims "Situation manageable in medical field"
Warns against escalation of party-government communication issues
Han Dong-hoon: "Emergency room and operating room situations are serious," positions remain parallel

On the 29th, the Presidential Office and the government reiterated their stance to maintain the policy of increasing medical school quotas at the People Power Party (PPP) members' workshop. However, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon criticized concerns arising from medical reform in the healthcare field, stating, "Life is not a risk that can be taken," resulting in a deadlock.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education; Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare; and Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, explained this position during a government report on medical reform at the workshop held at the Incheon International Airport Corporation Talent Development Center that afternoon.

Senior Secretary Jang made it clear that there was no intention to back down, saying, "If we were to succumb to the medical community without scientific evidence and change or reverse the medical school quota again, the public watching this would be greatly disappointed."

Regarding admissions, he mentioned the confirmation and announcement of next year's admission quota and said it would shock students and parents, explaining, "The 2026 academic year quota must also be announced 1 year and 10 months in advance according to the law." Although he did not mention PPP leader Han Dong-hoon directly, this was interpreted as a remark mindful of Han’s proposal to postpone the increase in medical school quotas for the 2026 academic year.

Minister Cho explained the response plan regarding predictions that a medical crisis would become apparent during the Chuseok holiday, saying, "From September 11 to September 25, the Chuseok holiday emergency response week has been designated, and 22 regional emergency medical centers with fewer than nine specialists are being managed exclusively. For 29 hospitals combined, we plan to operate dedicated emergency rooms for severe cases." Through the response of the government and frontline medical personnel, the current situation in medical fields is not as serious as feared.

Minister Cho reiterated, "The media portrays various problems in emergency rooms as if they arose after the announcement of the medical school quota increase, but these are structural and ongoing issues," emphasizing, "Fundamentally, medical reform is necessary to solve them."

Deputy Prime Minister Lee also stated, "In the decision process for the 2025 academic year, it was not just insisting on 2,000 students; although 2,000 was announced, about 1,500 were accepted for the 2025 academic year, reflecting significant field opinions," highlighting that the government’s decision was not unilateral. He added, "I hope the ruling party and government can cooperate and unite with one voice to resolve social conflicts and confusion surrounding the expansion of medical school quotas."

The attendance and reporting of high-ranking presidential and government officials at this workshop related to medical reform was a schedule added the day before. This is interpreted as an attempt to ease tensions between the ruling party and government over the postponement of the 2026 medical school quota increase. PPP leader Han said at the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that morning, "The ruling party-government conflict frame is a luxury," and President Yoon also tried to calm the situation during a national briefing that day, stating, "There is absolutely no problem between the ruling party and government."

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (from left), Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, and Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs to the President, are listening to a remark by Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho before reporting on medical reform at the People Power Party lawmakers' workshop held on the afternoon of the 29th at the Human Resources Development Institute of Incheon International Airport Corporation in Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, as PPP leader Han and the government still have not narrowed their differences regarding the medical school quota increase, interpretations suggest that tensions remain. Earlier, Han pointed out at the Supreme Council meeting, "The situation in emergency rooms and operating rooms is so severe that alternatives and mediation are needed," adding, "Medical reform is an important national task. However, during its implementation, the government must listen carefully and respond to the public’s worries and anxieties."

Han left the venue without receiving the government report on medical reform that day. Park Jeong-ha, chief secretary to the PPP leader, explained to reporters in the afternoon that Han left due to a private schedule. It was reported that Han left to review the agenda for a meeting with Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party scheduled for the 1st of next month. A PPP official told this paper, "The meeting date was decided today, and agenda coordination between the chief secretaries of the two party leaders will take place tomorrow (the 30th), so Han left to conduct a preliminary review."

Upon arriving at the workshop after the government report, Han responded to a comment, "Two ministers and the Senior Secretary for Social Affairs came. If Han had listened, it would have been a much better opportunity for ruling party-government communication," by saying, "I heard about it," and dismissing, "You keep talking about communication issues between the ruling party and government, but that’s not the important thing." He continued, "In matters as important as the public and life, the ruling party-government conflict frame is a luxury," adding, "I hope we focus on what is right rather than who is right. I think mediation and compromise that can alleviate public anxiety are necessary."

When a reporter asked, "President Yoon effectively reaffirmed the medical school quota increase at today’s national briefing. How do you evaluate that?" Han said, "I agree that an increase is necessary for medical reform," emphasizing, "However, the absolute values during the process are the public’s health, life, and anxiety, and we must proceed considering these. I believe everyone will agree on this."

When another reporter said, "The Presidential Office and government say they can manage the current situation, but there is a difference in perception with Leader Han," Han responded, "Whether the situation in emergency rooms and operating rooms is serious or not can be judged as new alternatives or breakthroughs are needed," adding, "I judge it to be serious, but the government judges otherwise."

He continued, "Aren’t there many who see it as 'not serious'?" and said, "The public’s health and life are not risks that can be taken. In that sense, I said such alternatives are necessary. However, that doesn’t mean my words are absolutely right; I hope there are better solutions or breakthroughs," he elaborated.

People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is giving a greeting speech at the National Assembly members' workshop held on the afternoon of the 29th at the Human Resources Development Institute of Incheon International Airport Corporation in Yeongjongdo, Incheon. [Image source=Yonhap News]