Debate Continues Over 'Medical Student National Exam Relief'... How to Address Medical Service Gaps?

Only 446 of 3,172 National Medical Exam Candidates Took the Test... Workforce Shortage Expected
Petition Against 'Saving Medical Students' Surpasses 500,000
Government: "Short by About 300, But Responding with Workforce Reallocation"

On the 20th of last month, one day before the strike of residents at major university hospitals, a third-year medical student from Seoul National University is holding a solo protest in front of the main building of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with a statement supporting medical issues and the residents' strike placed beside them. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and Juhee Kang] The Korean Medical Association, the government, and the ruling party have reached a dramatic agreement on medical policy issues, but the ongoing refusal of medical students to take the national medical licensing exam has brought the medical-government conflict to a new phase.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) argues that measures are needed to allow medical students to take the national licensing exam (NLE), but the government considers it inappropriate to discuss this while the students are refusing to take the exam. However, since a significant number of examinees have refused to take the practical exam that began on the 8th, concerns are rising that there may be disruptions in securing medical personnel in the future.

The government forecasts a supply shortage of about 300 personnel next year due to the medical students' refusal to take the NLE but stated that it can prepare countermeasures through personnel redistribution.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, only 446 out of 3,127 total examinees (14%) took this year's NLE. The remaining 2,681 (86%) did not apply even during the additional registration period. If the government does not establish a separate relief procedure, those who did not apply cannot take the exam.

The government maintains its position that it will not consider relief measures such as additional NLE registration. Son Young-rae, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare (head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters Strategic Planning Team), stated at a regular briefing that "Since the exam schedule has already been postponed once and the registration period extended additionally, we are not considering granting any further additional registration opportunities."

Earlier, due to the impact of the medical sector strike, the government postponed the exam originally scheduled for August 31 by one week and extended the practical exam re-registration deadline from the 4th to midnight on the 6th.

The KMA has warned that if relief measures for medical students are not prepared, additional collective actions may follow. In a statement released on the 7th, the KMA said, "Relief measures must be properly prepared for the medical students' refusal to take the NLE, which was a legitimate protest against unilateral medical policies," and "We will respond using all possible means to ensure they can take the exam normally."

Son Young-rae, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters Strategic Planning Team), is holding a regular briefing on the response to the novel coronavirus infection on the morning of the 9th at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City. Photo by Yonhap News

Medical students are still refusing to take the national licensing exam. Although some medical schools are conducting internal surveys to determine whether to continue collective actions, no clear decision has been made yet. Previously, on the 7th, medical students stated in a press release that "students have never requested relief measures for the medical licensing exam."

The government also views that it cannot consider relief while medical students are voluntarily refusing the exam and sees it as unfair from an equity perspective.

Spokesperson Son said, "Medical students are voluntarily refusing the national exam, and we have not officially received any indication that they intend to take it. We see little need to discuss additional opportunities," adding, "the national exam is taken by many people preparing for various professions and qualifications, so additional registration would violate fairness and equity. Without prior public consent, it is not an easy decision."

Meanwhile, public opinion is not favorable toward relief for medical students refusing the NLE. A petition titled "Opposition to re-registration and subsequent relief for medical students who canceled NLE registration," posted on the Blue House's public petition board on the 24th of last month, had garnered over 500,000 signatures as of 7 a.m. on the 10th.

A survey conducted by polling firm Realmeter on behalf of OhmyNews on the 8th, targeting 500 adults aged 18 and over, showed that 52.4% opposed relief for medical students who did not take the NLE.

A petition titled "Opposing re-registration and subsequent relief for medical students who canceled their national exam registration" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 24th of last month. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture

However, some express concern that failing to provide relief to medical students may lead to future shortages of medical personnel.

About 3,000 new doctors are produced annually in South Korea. After passing the NLE and obtaining a medical license, medical students typically undergo internship and residency training. However, under the current situation, it is pointed out that about 2,700 new doctors will not emerge next year, inevitably causing shortages in emergency room interns and public health doctors (Gongbo-ui).

Public health doctors serve in local health centers and substitute for military service, with about 500 to 700 selected annually. In the long term, this may also affect the selection of military medical officers, who are specialists that have completed a four-year residency program.

Therefore, some argue that relief is necessary to allow medical students to take the exam normally again. It is pointed out that if there are disruptions such as a shortage of doctors, the public will be the ones who suffer.

One netizen expressed concern, saying, "If medical students cannot take the NLE, there will be a shortage of interns next year, followed by first-year residents, then second-year residents, and continuing shortages in third- and fourth-year residents, ultimately causing harm to the public."

The government forecasts a supply disruption of about 300 personnel next year due to the refusal but stated it can establish countermeasures through personnel redistribution.

At a regular briefing on the 9th, spokesperson Son said, "About 500 public health doctors need to be newly recruited next year, and since this includes personnel who have completed internship and residency training, we predict a shortage of about 300 personnel."

He added, "Public health doctors have maintained their assigned regions based on supply, so even though the necessity has decreased compared to before, some areas still remain. If we appropriately adjust and redistribute these areas, there should be no major problems," and "This personnel shortage will only occur for one year, and the following year, a large number of public health doctors will enter simultaneously, so if we consider these factors and adjust plans accordingly, there should be no significant issues."

Regarding military medical officer supply, he said, "Military medical officers are not selected mainly from general doctors who have just passed the national exam but from specialists who have completed internship or residency training," and "there should be no disruption in the military medical officer selection process."

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