"Medical Students Refusing Exams, Government Should Not Intervene" Blue House Petition Surpasses 200,000 Signatures

"Even if they refuse the test, they seem to believe the government will rescue them later"
"Taking citizens' lives hostage at a critical moment of quarantine... collective selfishness"
President Moon Jae-in strongly warns the Korean Medical Association strike, "We will respond firmly"

On the afternoon of the 7th, students affiliated with the Korean Intern Resident Association are protesting in groups against the government's plan to increase the number of medical residents at the entrance of Yeouido Park in Seoul.

The number of signatures on a Blue House petition opposing any future relief for medical students who refused to take the national medical licensing exam in protest against the government's policy to increase medical school quotas has surpassed 200,000. The threshold for the Blue House to officially respond to a petition is 200,000 signatures.

As of 10 a.m. on the 25th, the petition titled "Opposing re-registration and any future relief for medical students who canceled their national exam registration" on the Blue House petition board has exceeded 230,000 signatures.

The petitioner pointed out that the medical students' refusal to take the exam is a form of collective selfishness holding the lives of the public hostage, and that it is a form of self-deception based on the belief that the government will eventually provide relief.

The petitioner stated, "The fact that the medical students collectively canceled the exam this time was only possible because they believed the government would somehow provide relief," adding, "In fact, some medical students who canceled the exam openly say they are 'studying for the exam just in case,' which suggests they expect to be granted relief."

Furthermore, the petitioner said, "If they receive medical licenses through future relief or special re-registration, they will exhibit even greater collective selfishness than the current residents planning a total strike by holding the lives of the public hostage at a critical moment for national quarantine," and "Each time, the public will feel even greater anxiety than the fear of the disease itself."

The petition was posted on the 21st and surpassed 200,000 signatures in just over four days. Amid the resurgence of COVID-19 and the visible strike movements within the medical community, with even prospective doctors actively participating, public opinion has turned unfavorable.

Reflecting this situation, President Moon Jae-in issued an unusually strong message. At a senior secretaries and aides meeting on the 24th, President Moon said regarding the strike movement led by the Korea Medical Association (KMA), "We have no choice but to respond firmly to illegal collective actions such as work stoppages and closures." He urged, "Please take the government's hand extended to find a solution through dialogue," while repeatedly warning, "Collective actions that hold the lives of the public hostage will never be supported."

Meanwhile, the Korea Medical Association plans to hold a second nationwide doctors' strike from the 26th to the 28th. Unlike the one-day collective work stoppage by residents on the 7th or the first nationwide doctors' strike on the 14th of this month, this second collective work stoppage by the KMA will involve doctors from all specialties and last longer, raising concerns about a significant impact on medical sites.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.