"20,000 Doctors Gather" ... Medical Associations Hold Weekend Rally in Seoul Despite Withdrawal of Medical School Expansion Plan

KMA President Kim Taekwoo:
"We Are Not Wrong"

Doctors and medical students opposed to the expansion of medical school admissions gathered in downtown Seoul on the afternoon of April 20, demanding that the government halt its healthcare reform policies.

The Korean Medical Association is holding the "National Doctors' Rally for Medical Normalization" near Sungnyemun, Jung-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) held the "National Doctors' Rally for Medical Normalization" near Sungnyemun, Jung-gu, Seoul from 2 p.m. on the same day. According to the organizers, approximately 20,000 people attended the rally.

In his opening address, KMA President Kim Taekwoo stated, "We are not wrong. The so-called healthcare reform policies must be completely reconsidered," and argued, "To bring medical students and residents back to their educational settings, we must clearly identify what needs to be corrected first."

He continued, "The administration that has destroyed healthcare must take full responsibility and resolve the issues it has created," adding, "Actions that irresponsibly attempt to pass these problems on to the next administration are unacceptable."

Additionally, the KMA issued a resolution demanding: an immediate halt to President Yoon Suk Yeol's so-called 'deterioration of healthcare' policies, including the essential medical care package; a complete redesign of all healthcare policies; an official apology for the administrative orders issued to medical students and residents; and the implementation of realistic alternatives, such as re-accreditation of educational conditions at each university and adjustment of admission quotas.

The KMA has consistently demanded the complete withdrawal of the government's 'healthcare reform' policies, including the expansion of medical school admissions and the operation of the Special Committee on Healthcare Reform, arguing that these measures have been pushed through without sufficient discussion with the medical community. On April 17, the government took a step back by restoring next year's medical school admissions quota to 3,058, the same as before the proposed increase.