Welfare Minister: "If the Medical Community Proposes Alternatives, Reviewing the 2026 Quota from Scratch Is Possible"

Minister Cho Kyu-hong: "The 2025 quota is already being filled through rolling admissions, so changes are difficult"

The government stated that if the medical community presents a reasonable alternative regarding the expansion of medical school quotas, the admission quota for the 2026 academic year can be reviewed from scratch. It reaffirmed that the quota for the 2025 academic year cannot be adjusted.

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyuhong is deep in thought while attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the doctors' collective action held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno, Seoul on the 12th. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

On the 22nd, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, appeared on 'KBS Sunday Diagnosis Live' and said, "The admission quota for 2025 has already closed early application submissions, so it is difficult to change," adding, "As I have mentioned several times, if the medical community presents a reasonable alternative for 2026, it can be reviewed from a zero base."

Regarding the 'reasonable alternative' the government demands from the medical community, Minister Cho explained, "The government announced the number 2,000 (increase), but since it has been said that this is unscientific and lacks basis, we are asking what scientifically and reasonably based quota the medical community thinks is appropriate."

When asked about concerns that it might be ambiguous to bring one reasonable alternative given the various stakeholders within the medical community, he replied, "It does not mean a single number," and added, "If you roughly submit the proposal the medical community is considering, discussion will be possible."

Regarding the difficulties in launching the ruling-opposition-medical-government consultative body, he said, "The government also agrees on the necessity and importance, and if the medical community participates, the government will actively engage in dialogue regardless of the consultative body's formation format." He took a cautious stance on the medical community's demands for an apology from the president or disciplinary action against officials. He refrained from commenting, saying, "The medical situation is rapidly evolving, and it is not appropriate for the person responsible for medical policy to publicly declare their position."

When asked if he was willing to apologize on behalf of the president, he responded, "I will certainly apologize to the public for the inconvenience and suffering caused by the medical gap, but it is difficult to specifically comment on demands from the opposition party or others."