President Lee Presides Over Cabinet Meeting on the 15th
"Please Reflect on Social Responsibility as Future Medical Professionals"
President Lee Jae Myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 15th at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
President Lee Jae Myung indicated at the Cabinet meeting on the 15th that the government would continue to play an active fiscal role next year. To this end, he instructed each ministry to boldly adjust wasteful expenditures. Regarding the full return of medical students, he said, "It is a fortunate development," but also urged, "Please reflect deeply on what social responsibility means."
In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on this day, President Lee said, "The conditions surrounding our economy are difficult, and the private sector's fundamental strength has been significantly depleted, so I believe the government's active fiscal role will be very important next year." However, he also analyzed, "There is not much fiscal room left for the country at the moment." He then requested, "Each ministry should boldly adjust budgets that are conventional, inefficient, or wasteful, and prepare to reflect the opinions of the public widely in the budget formulation process so that an efficient budget can be established."
President Lee Jae Myung is saluting the national flag at the Cabinet meeting held on the 15th at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
He welcomed the recent announcement by medical students to return to their studies. President Lee said, "It is fortunate that medical students have decided to return to their studies. Although it is late, it is truly a welcome development, and I ask the education authorities to swiftly implement the necessary follow-up measures."
President Lee continued, "I also ask medical students, as future medical professionals responsible for the health and lives of our people, to think more deeply about what social responsibility means." He explained, "Relevant departments should quickly and thoroughly devise measures to address gaps in public healthcare, essential medical services, and emergency medical care, which are public goods." He added, "Although it is not anyone's fault, I hope that from now on, smooth dialogue will take place in all areas, and I ask the authorities to communicate closely with medical professionals."
Medical students began a collective leave of absence in February last year after the government announced a plan to increase the medical school quota by 2,000. Since then, the government proposed measures such as exemption from academic probation, additional national exams, and a fundamental review of the medical school quota, but the students did not return. However, on the 12th, the Korean Medical Student Association (KMSA), a group representing medical students, issued a statement and announced a complete return after one year and five months.
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