Medical Student Leader: "Even After Sacrifice, We Are Denied Basic Respect... Devoting Our Lives Has Made Us Slaves to the State"

Sunwoo Lee, President of the Korean Medical College and Medical School Student Association,
criticizes government and universities at National Doctors Rally on the 20th
"Threats of expulsion, bans on resignation... Park Minsu and Cho Kyuhong must be held accountable"

Sunwoo Lee, president of the Korean Medical College and Medical School Student Association, criticized the government and university presidents on the 20th, stating, "I was in despair at the fact that even after making sacrifices, we cannot expect even the most basic respect." At the National Doctors Rally held near Sungnyemun in Jung-gu, Seoul, Lee asserted, "Within just one year, we have faced threats of medical license suspension, forced conscription as military doctors, public criticism through the media, bans on resignation, threats of martial law-style crackdowns on residents, and threats of expulsion for students." According to the organizers, approximately 25,000 people attended the rally.

Sunwoo Lee, president of the Korean Medical College and Medical School Student Association, is speaking at the "National Doctors' Rally for Medical Normalization" held on Sejong-daero near Sungnyemun in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee continued, "The government announced that it would adjust the 2026 medical school admission quota back to previous levels after the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol (former president). However, it also said that from 2027, it would increase the quota through the Medical Workforce Estimation Committee." He added, "Within just one year, we have lost the freedom to take a leave of absence, the freedom to choose our profession, and even the reason to walk this path, which we were told was noble and difficult. We have reached the point where dedicating our lives means becoming slaves to the state."

Lee emphasized the need for a scientific calculation of medical school quotas. He said, "When asked, 'What about PK (medical students doing clinical rotations at university hospitals)?', the university presidents responded by asking, 'What is PK?'" He continued, "These university presidents, who blindly propose constructing new buildings and increasing student numbers without considering the voices of students or those in the field, are a clear example of the negligence and incompetence of bureaucrats who only work at their desks." He also criticized, "Park Minsu (Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare) and Cho Kyuhong (Minister of Health and Welfare) must be held accountable for decimating obstetrics and gynecology through the Diagnosis-Related Group payment system, and now attempting to destroy the entire healthcare system. As a result of these misguided policies, the number of students unwilling to undergo training is only increasing."

He further stated, "I urge you to reflect on why students aspiring to become surgeons, internists, obstetricians and gynecologists, pediatricians, and emergency medicine doctors?fields known to be in shortage?have chosen to walk away." He emphasized, "Above all, what students desire is a future where they can safely study and graduate until they become doctors."

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association, is speaking at the "National Doctors Rally for Medical Normalization" held on Sejong-daero near Sungnyemun, Jung-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Dan, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Korean Intern Resident Association (and vice president of the Korean Medical Association), also took the stage to criticize the government and political circles. He said, "In February last year, Yoon Suk-yeol pushed through unreasonable policies under the name of increasing the medical school quota by 2,000 and introducing a package of essential medical policies. In response, 10,000 residents left their hospitals, and 20,000 students left their schools." He continued, "The government deployed riot police and investigators around hospitals and threatened to arrest those leading collective action. It issued administrative orders such as orders to return to work, bans on accepting resignations, and orders to maintain medical services."

He added, "They threatened to suspend and revoke medical licenses. Just for quitting the hospital, we had to undergo 12 hours of police questioning. Is resignation a crime? Are we criminals?" He questioned, "What was the government doing? As Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho said, did the government win by holding out for six months? Is there really a winner?" He further argued, "If the government truly cares about the lives of the people, it should acknowledge its policy failures and resolve the situation as soon as possible. The ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in the last general election due to the 2,000-person quota increase, and the opposition, with its 180-seat majority, also bears responsibility for failing to improve the training environment for residents."

He continued, "Why did Professor Lee Gukjong have to leave Ajou University Hospital? As Professor Lee said, the Ministry of Health and Welfare lies about everything except breathing." He emphasized, "With the current system, it is impossible to solve the problems of avoidance of specialties such as thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. This is not a turf war, but a question of whether Korea's healthcare system can remain sustainable." He appealed, "To the public, I ask that you listen more deeply to the voices of young doctors and students over the past year, so that they do not have to leave emergency rooms, intensive care units, delivery rooms, and operating rooms."