Deputy Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho: "0% Possibility of Adjusting Medical School Admission Quotas in 2025"

Increase in Medical School Admissions for 2025 Academic Year, No Form of Modification Possible

As the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Emergency Response Committee continue to insist on halting the recruitment of medical school students for the 2025 academic year, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, firmly stated, "The possibility of adjusting the medical school admission quota for 2025 is 0%."

On the 25th, Minister Lee said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "The medical school quota for the 2026 academic year can be discussed based on reasonably estimated figures. I believe that if we compromise, engage in dialogue, and reach an agreement, students and residents will return."

Seoul large hospital emergency medical center. Photo by Yonhap News

The day before (the 24th), at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Park Hyung-wook, chairman of the KMA Emergency Committee, and Park Dan, chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association Emergency Committee and KMA Emergency Committee member, held a meeting with Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, and Lee Ju-young, a member of the National Assembly. They expressed the position that the suspension of new medical student recruitment in 2025 is necessary. They stated, "Due to the current government's policies, Korea's healthcare system is collapsing, and medical education in 2025 is also impossible," adding, "Neither students nor residents will return, and at present, halting the 2025 medical school recruitment is the best solution."

Minister Lee responded, "Adjusting the ongoing 2025 academic year admissions would undermine the stability of the admissions process," and added, "The government has the responsibility to announce and implement workforce supply and demand." He raised his voice, saying, "Any form of modification regarding the 2025 medical school expansion is impossible."

Despite the medical-government conflict continuing for nine months, differences in positions among the Ministry of Education, students, residents, and professors remain unresolved. Chairman Park has previously stated that if the 2025 expansion is not stopped and reconsidered from the beginning, medical students' leaves of absence will continue next year. Concerns have also been raised that professors cannot handle the more than doubled number of students. In response, the government has pledged to strengthen support for essential medical fields by securing 1,000 national university professors over three years.

Minister Lee said, "Hiring professors is quite challenging, but we have increased the numbers dramatically," and added, "Having visited the field, I believe securing 1,000 professors is possible because many people aspire to these positions."

Minister Lee also stated that he is in close discussions with universities to enable students to return. He said, "If this continues beyond a year, there will be significant damage to students' careers and workforce supply issues," and added, "I am determined to prevent any further sacrifices." He concluded, "I believe our education is a source of hope," and said, "Although there have been difficulties, I am confident we can overcome them well."