Medical Community's Demand to Dismiss Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Met with "Unthinkable" Response
President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding the '2nd Year National Report and Press Conference of the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration' on the morning of the 9th at the briefing room of the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office stated on the 9th that, amid ongoing discussions within the ruling and opposition parties and government consultation body, the Korea Medical Association's demand to withdraw the plan to increase medical school quotas in 2025 is not feasible, emphasizing that "postponing the 2025 medical school quota increase is practically difficult and impossible."
A Presidential Office official told reporters in the afternoon, "We clearly state that postponing next year's medical school quota increase is impossible," adding, "The early admission process started today, and postponement could cause great confusion including within the Ministry of Education."
However, the official added, "Regarding the scale of medical school quotas from 2026 onward, if the medical community presents reasonable opinions based on scientific evidence, we are open to discussions without being bound by numbers," emphasizing, "We also hope the medical community will come to the dialogue table as soon as possible."
He continued, "The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties appealed for the medical community's participation in the consultation body," adding, "We fully agree and support the ruling and opposition parties working together to find a solution."
Meanwhile, as the medical community continues to demand the dismissal of the Minister and Vice Minister of Health and Welfare related to medical reform, the Presidential Office stated, "There is no change in our existing position."
The official dismissed the possibility of personnel changes, saying, "Replacing the Minister and Vice Minister responsible during ongoing medical reform is unthinkable," and added, "Personnel authority is the President's exclusive prerogative."
When asked whether the consultation body could operate with only the ruling and opposition parties and government, excluding the medical community, the official said, "Over the past one year and eight months, we have repeatedly requested the medical community to provide opinions but received no response. Last Friday, the consultation body was proposed, and as it is about to be launched, efforts to persuade the medical community are necessary," emphasizing, "It is essential for the medical community to come to the dialogue table."
With the Chuseok holiday approaching, the Presidential Office plans to dispatch secretary-level aides to emergency medical sites. The official explained, "An appropriate number of personnel will be dispatched from each secretary office to express gratitude and encouragement to medical staff and to check on difficulties at the sites."
Regarding the emergency room situation, the official added, "The government plans to review the implementation status of special measures ahead of Chuseok this week and hold a briefing on comprehensive emergency response guidelines," adding, "We are expanding emergency medical institutions, designating an emergency response period during the Chuseok holiday, monitoring implementation status, and preparing a system to guide emergency medical institutions through portals like Naver and Kakao."
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