[Exclusive] Despite Calls for Manpower Shortages, "Half Remain Unemployed"... Public Safety at Risk

Ministry of Education Deregulates Admission Quotas in 2023
Oversupply Becomes Entrenched, Education Quality Declines
Cho Jeonghun: "Paramedics Must Be Brought Back Under Supply Management"

The employment rate for paramedics working on the front lines of various accident sites, including disasters and emergencies, has remained at around 50 percent for several years. Since the Ministry of Education allowed universities to set their own enrollment quotas for paramedic departments in 2023, concerns have grown over a distorted supply and demand of paramedics, declining educational quality, and heightened safety risks.

Yonhap News Agency

According to data received by Assemblyman Cho Jeonghun of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee, from the Ministry of Education and the Korean Paramedics Association, the employment rate for Level 1 paramedics was 53.66 percent in 2020, 53.82 percent in 2021, 54.97 percent in 2022, 55.72 percent in 2023, and 56.9 percent last year. While the total number of employed paramedics has increased due to rising demand, the employment rate has remained in the 50 percent range due to oversupply.

As of last year, there were 26,992 Level 1 paramedics in total, but only 15,361 were employed. Over the past four years, demand increased by 3,913, while supply grew by 5,661, resulting in a persistent employment crisis. Industry analysts say this trend accelerated after the Ministry of Education's 2023 decision to allow universities to set their own enrollment quotas for paramedic departments.

According to the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act, core healthcare personnel such as doctors, medical technicians, pharmacists, and veterinarians have their enrollment quotas controlled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and faculty councils. Paramedics were also managed in this way, but were excluded from the supply and demand management system due to the Ministry of Education's decision. As a result, the number of universities with four-year paramedic programs surged from 17 in 2023 to 28 this year. Including both four-year universities and junior colleges, there are now 72 paramedic departments with a total enrollment quota of 2,830 students this year.

Paramedics are mainly employed at medical institutions such as hospitals. Looking at last year's employment figures, 8,418 worked at fire-related agencies, 4,143 at medical institutions, 1,944 at emergency patient transport companies, and 856 at national agencies such as the Ministry of Justice-most are employed in areas closely related to public safety. Assemblyman Cho stated, "Excluding paramedics, who are the first responders at accident sites, from the system is unfair and unsafe," adding, "If oversupply and employment difficulties are neglected, a distorted supply and demand in the field and a decline in educational quality are inevitable."