Active Medical Students Increase Sixfold... Resident Representative Asks, "Does the Ministry of National Defense Have a Plan for Military Medical Collapse?"

Medical Students on Military Leave of Absence Increased 6.5 Times Last Year
Concerns Over Worsening Medical Gaps in Military and Public Health Centers
"What Will You Do About the Shortage of Military Doctors and Public Health Doctors?"

As the number of medical students enlisting for active duty increases, concerns are rising that regional medical services such as military hospitals and public health centers will face significant shortages. In this context, Park Dan, chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeon Association), criticized Defense Minister Kim Yong-heon, asking, "Do you have any measures to prevent the collapse of the military medical system?"

Park Dan, Acting Chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeonhyeop). Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

On the 13th, Chairman Park stated on social media (SNS), "Every year, about 1,000 young doctors have been assigned as military doctors and public health doctors to frontline military units and island/mountainous areas. Among those who gave up residency training, 4,353 are scheduled to enlist in March next year, which is four times more than usual." He added, "Until now, specialists were primarily selected as military doctors, but most of next year's enlistees are general practitioners, so disruptions in personnel management at military hospitals are expected."

He also pointed out, "Students on leave of absence have simultaneously applied for active duty and social service agent positions, and the number of students approved for military leave has already reached 1,059. What is the plan for the military doctor and public health doctor shortages after these individuals are discharged in two to three years? Shouldn't this issue be addressed?"

According to data received by Jin Sun-mi, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Ministry of Education on the "Number of Military Leave Approvals for Medical Students at National and Private Medical Schools Nationwide," as of the 23rd of last month, 1,059 students were approved for military leave at 37 out of 40 medical schools nationwide, excluding three that did not submit data. The number of medical students on military leave was in the hundreds in 2021 (116), 2022 (138), and last year (162), but this year it increased by 6.5 times compared to last year and by a staggering 7.6 times compared to the 2021?2023 average (138.7). By university type, 358 were from national universities and 701 from private universities.

Medical students can serve as active-duty soldiers, but once they begin residency training, they are appointed as commissioned officer candidates and are required to serve as military doctors or public health doctors. The service period for military doctors is 38 months, while active-duty soldiers serve 18 months, leading to an increase in medical students choosing active duty enlistment.

Consequently, concerns are growing that the already insufficient number of military doctors may decrease further. According to data submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to Hwang Hee, a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee from the Democratic Party, from 2020 to August this year, outpatient visits at 13 military hospitals totaled 5,689,315 cases. Currently, 537 personnel, including 506 military doctors and 31 civilian military doctors, work at 12 military hospitals. With a total of approximately 546,000 soldiers and civilian military personnel, one military doctor is responsible for about 1,017 service members.