SEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday his government is willing to engage in discussions with doctors who oppose his plan to augment medical school admissions while accusing critics of offering no reasonable alternative to facilitate a doctor shortage.
During a 50-minute address to the nation, Yoon indicated for the first time his readiness to seek a middle ground on his medical reform plans following the government’s call for dialogue with protesting doctors. Yoon apologized for the disruption caused by the ongoing strike by trainee doctors but rebuked the medical sector for prioritizing its own interests over public health.
He stated, “If you come up with a more appropriate and reasonable solution, we can engage in extensive discussions. If you present better opinions and rational justifications, government policies can evolve for the better.”
Over 90% of the nation’s 13,000 trainee doctors have been participating in walkouts since February 20 to oppose the government’s proposal to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 starting in 2025, up from the current 3,000.
South Korea, with a population of 52 million, had 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022, significantly lower than the OECD average of 3.7. Previous administrations have attempted to address the worsening doctor shortage in critical areas such as paediatrics, emergency units, and clinics outside the greater Seoul area, but their efforts faced strong opposition from the medical community.
Some medical professionals have criticized the Yoon administration for not consulting them beforehand, asserting that its plan would do little to rectify issues like low pay for trainee doctors. Yoon countered several claims made by doctors’ groups and emphasized the necessity of medical reform.
He said, “After remaining silent despite the government’s request for specific figures on medical school quotas, the medical community is now suggesting numbers like 350, 500, and 1,000 without any basis. If they wish to argue for a reduction in the scale of the increase, they should present a unified proposal supported by solid scientific evidence, rather than resorting to collective action.
