Kyo-hong Cho, Minister of Health and Welfare, "Reviewing Medical School Quotas from the Beginning... Reduction Also Possible"

Confirmation at National Assembly Welfare Committee: "The figure of 2,000 will be revised"
Accelerating discussions with the medical community... Aiming for agreement before March

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong expressed his intention to reconsider the medical school quota for the 2026 academic year from scratch, including not only increases but also freezes and reductions. He said he would consult with the Korea Medical Association as soon as possible before March, when the new semester begins.

On the morning of the 14th, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, is listening to questions from lawmakers at the Health and Welfare Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the 14th, Minister Cho attended the plenary session of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and stated, "As Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok mentioned on the 10th, we will review the 2026 quota from a 'zero base'." He added, "As a result, the numbers will change," signaling that the previously announced increase of '2,000' by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last year is inevitably subject to change in some form.

In response to questions about whether this change contradicts the government's existing plan to increase the quota, he explained, "Ultimately, the number I announced (2,000) will inevitably have to be changed," adding, "At the time of the previous announcement, we looked at the long-term (doctor) supply and demand forecast until 2035, but this time, we were instructed to fully consider each school's educational conditions and the fact that medical student education did not take place last year."

He also said he would accelerate discussions with the medical community to resolve conflicts between the government and the medical sector. Minister Cho stated, "According to the plan to reconsider the medical school quota from scratch, I will discuss (next year's quota) with the Korea Medical Association," and added, "I will make every effort to consult as quickly as possible before the new students enter in March."

When asked by lawmakers whether the term 'reconsideration from scratch' includes freeze, increase, and reduction (from the existing quota of 3,058), he agreed, saying "That's correct." He also emphasized that the government has hinted at 'reconsideration from scratch' several times. Minister Cho explained, "The government previously said that if the medical community proposed alternatives, we would review them from a zero base, and this time, even without a prior proposal from the medical community, we expressed the position of discussing it together."

Regarding the proclamation issued during the December 3 emergency martial law that contained the phrase 'discipline of residents,' he repeatedly expressed regret and conveyed his apologies to medical personnel, including residents. Minister Cho said, "I feel sorry and offer my condolences to the resident medical staff who may have been hurt emotionally due to the martial law and Proclamation No. 5," emphasizing, "Proclamation No. 5 is completely different from the government's policy direction, and I absolutely cannot agree with it."

When asked whether he received any separate instructions from the president, the Minister of National Defense, or the martial law commander during the emergency martial law, he replied, "No," adding, "The investigative agencies also stated the same."