[Chodong Perspective] What Doctors Must Do to Gain Public Sympathy for Their Protests

Despite Withdrawal of Medical School Expansion, Collective Action Continues
Public Sympathy Lost for the Korean Medical Association Ignoring Patients
Discuss Medical Reform in Meeting Rooms, Not on the Streets

The government has effectively withdrawn its plan to increase medical school admissions by restoring the 2026 academic year quota to pre-expansion levels. Nevertheless, the Korean Medical Association pressed ahead with a "general rally." The association claimed they took to the streets "to uphold the world's highest standard of medical care" and "to protect the public's right to health." This is not the first time such arguments have been made. Having observed the conflict between the government and doctors for over a year, I cannot help but feel a sense of d?j? vu.

Yonhap News Agency

Last year, the government announced an increase of 2,000 medical school seats, citing the need to "strengthen essential medical services." However, the outcome is now well known. The government's approach to expanding admissions was so aggressive that it could be called reckless. The rationale provided for the increase only fueled doubts and backlash, and, most importantly, there was insufficient consultation with the medical community, the main stakeholders. While doctors left hospitals and medical students left their schools, patients suffered even more and public distrust grew. This culminated in the government’s recent announcement to revert medical school quotas to their original levels before the increase. The result of this "hasty administration" was a slew of side effects and controversy, with patients bearing the brunt?only for the entire initiative to be abandoned in the end.

Yet doctors have again launched collective action, declaring that "the struggle is not over." Who can sympathize with this? Is this not simply opposition for the sake of opposition? While the medical community insists that "increasing the number of doctors is not the solution to medical problems," they have offered no alternative solutions. Local healthcare is on the verge of collapse, and pediatric departments are emptying out, yet they insist that simply increasing the number of doctors is unacceptable. While claiming to care about patients, they are out on the streets instead of in clinics, calling for "normalization of medical care." How many people will believe them? The Korean Medical Association’s repeated opposition to increasing medical school admissions has become nothing more than a euphemism for protecting their own interests.

Even within the medical community, opinions on this latest "struggle" appear to be divided. The external environment has changed. Following the impeachment and removal from office of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, the government has lost the momentum to carry out its policies. The plan to increase medical school admissions for next year has been withdrawn. It is said that even within the association, those expressing concern about this protest outnumbered those supporting it. Nevertheless, the leadership of the association issued a mobilization order for medical students, arguing that a rally was necessary "for a swift resolution." Is this simply a show of strength? The head of the residents' association called on people to "listen to the voices of young doctors so they do not leave emergency rooms and operating rooms." However, such collective action cannot be justified on that basis.

If the medical community truly wishes to gain public sympathy, what should they do? The answer is clear. They must first accept the government’s announcement on medical school quotas and propose alternatives to attract students to essential medical departments that are directly linked to saving lives, as well as to strengthen regional healthcare. Instead of meaningless opposition and displays of force, they should take the lead in pursuing "real medical reform."

According to the government’s plan, starting in 2027, the "Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Estimation Committee" under the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be responsible for adjusting medical school quotas. Doctors’ opinions will inevitably play a significant role in this committee, and they must. If an increase in medical school admissions is necessary, doctors should provide evidence to support it; if a freeze is needed, they must present convincing arguments. Above all, patients and the public must be at the center of the doctors’ claims and voices. Let them fight within the committee. There are no longer any citizens willing to listen to doctors who leave hospitals and schools to shout in the streets.