[2025 Audit] Minister Jeong Eun-kyung: "Active Cooperation with Audit on Medical School Quota Increase by 2,000"

"Few Documents Remain...
Separate Investigation Is Difficult"

Jeong Eun-kyung, Minister of Health and Welfare, reiterated her commitment to actively cooperate with the Board of Audit and Inspection's review regarding the policy to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 students.

On the 14th, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, during the Health and Welfare Committee's audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Jeong Eun-kyung, Minister of Health and Welfare, is responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 13th, during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit, when Assemblyman So Byung-hoon of the Democratic Party of Korea asked how the figure of "2,000" was determined, Minister Jeong responded, "I believe there were discussions within the government," and added, "The Board of Audit and Inspection is currently conducting an audit on the process of increasing the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 students."

She continued, "I have reviewed the relevant documents and materials regarding the decision-making process, but there were not many documented records remaining," and added, "We are waiting for the results of the Board of Audit and Inspection's review, and I will ensure active cooperation throughout the audit process."

In response to Health and Welfare Committee Chair Park Jumin's subsequent remark that the Ministry's cooperation is necessary for the audit, she emphasized once again, "It is difficult for the Ministry of Health and Welfare to conduct a separate investigation," but added, "We will actively cooperate depending on the progress of the Board of Audit and Inspection's review."

Previously, in February last year, the government held a Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee meeting at the Seoul Government Complex and announced the plan to increase the 2025 medical school admission quota by 2,000 students. About a year later, in February this year, the National Assembly, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, passed a request for an audit to verify the process of determining the medical school quota and the allocation to each university.