"Ruling and Opposition Parties' Assembly, 'Let's Not Limit the Agenda'... Ruling and Opposition Parties Persuade Medical Sector to Join"

Handonghun "Let's Not Set Preconditions for Dialogue"
Lee Jaemyung "Discussions Should Proceed Openly"
Medical Community "Allowing Participation Is the Role of Ruling, Opposition, and Government"

The ruling and opposition parties, along with the government and medical representatives, have agreed not to limit the agenda in the four-party consultative body aimed at resolving the medical sector's staffing crisis, and have begun persuading the medical community to participate. The government and the medical sector, which have differing views on the 2025 quota expansion 'cancellation,' have agreed to meet at the negotiation table and start dialogue first.

On the 9th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting, "I believe that participation should not be blocked by setting preconditions for dialogue or limiting the agenda." Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also stated at the Supreme Council meeting, "The government should frankly acknowledge the situation and start broad and open discussions." The opposition party argues that "there must be accountability for those responsible" to open the door for dialogue.

Amid the ongoing emergency room treatment crisis, Gangwon National University Hospital and Ewha Mokdong Hospital, Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The medical community, which has not yet confirmed its attendance at the four-party consultative body, insists that the 2025 quota expansion be canceled and that President Yoon Suk-yeol issue an apology. While keeping the possibility of participating open, the medical sector is conducting discussions by professional groups depending on the composition and agenda. However, the final decision on participation rests with the ruling and opposition parties and the government. A spokesperson for the National Association of Medical School Professors appeared on MBC Radio and said, "In any form, the movement of the consultative body is a positive thing from the public's perspective." This suggests that the medical community may observe the ruling and opposition parties' discussions without joining the negotiation table.

However, the presidential office and government maintain that since the admission schedule has already begun, the cancellation of the medical school quota expansion cannot be reversed. Earlier, the government announced in May that it would increase the medical school quota from 3,113 in the 2024 academic year to 4,610 in 2025, an increase of 1,497. In contrast, the medical community argues that there is precedent for postponing the college entrance exam itself and points to the 1997 collective retention incident at Korean medicine schools, citing these as evidence that reversal is possible.

Regarding the negotiation agenda, Leader Han expressed hope that "practical discussions on specific issues such as medical school quotas, emergency medical measures during holidays, and budgets will take place." The aim is to resolve the pressing issues facing the medical sector through this discussion table.

Meanwhile, concerning the composition of the four-party consultative body, the ruling and opposition parties have held consultations between the chairs of their policy committees, and on the same day, Speaker Woo Won-shik and the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties will meet to begin discussions.