A Total of 2,042 This Year Alone
Since the onset of the medical policy conflict, a total of 3,375 medical students have enlisted as active-duty soldiers or social service agents.
The Korean Public Health Doctors Association (KPHA) announced on July 2 that, according to information disclosed by the Military Manpower Administration, 434 medical students enlisted in May as either active-duty soldiers or social service agents. Among those who enlisted in May, 399 joined as active-duty soldiers, while 35 joined as social service agents.
As a result, since the medical policy conflict began in February last year, the total number of medical students serving in the military as active-duty soldiers or social service agents, rather than as military doctors or public health doctors, has reached 3,375.
The trend of medical students enlisting as active-duty soldiers appears to be expanding. From January to May of this year, the number of enlistees totaled 1,838, which is higher than last year's figure of 1,537.
Lee Sunghwan, president of the KPHA, stated, "The number of male students who have enlisted so far has increased to the equivalent of an entire graduating class of medical students (3,058)," adding, "Given the workforce shortage on the ground and the impact on public health rights, the Ministry of National Defense should begin discussing reforms to the public health doctor and military doctor systems with a more forward-looking stance, even at this stage."
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