"Medical Students, Come Back" Plea from Deans of Medical Schools

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] An organization composed of deans of 40 medical schools and graduate schools of medicine nationwide has urged medical students who decided to continue their strike to "return to their original place."

The Korea Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate Schools of Medicine stated in an appeal released on the 11th, "We share your (medical students') awareness that the recent medical policy the government tried to enforce has many problems," and "We deeply appreciate your sense of responsibility and dedication, which played a decisive role in bringing about the medical-government council to re-discuss the issue from scratch."

The association also said, "Now is the time to return to your original place," adding, "It is time to devote all efforts to effectively operating the medical-government council, which was hard-earned while focusing on studies and national exams, to actually supplement the problems of our medical system and develop a new policy framework."

After the government, ruling party, and the Korea Medical Association, representing the medical community, reached an agreement on the 4th, negative sentiments remained among resident organizations and medical students. Subsequently, resident organizations formed a new emergency committee and returned to clinical practice, but the student association composed of medical students decided on the same day to continue the strike. Further discussions are planned regarding the refusal to take the national medical licensing examination. Although there were various opinions internally about whether to continue or stop the strike, the proposal to end the strike was rejected after a vote.

The Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate Schools said, "We are aware of concerns about the upcoming medical-government council process," but emphasized, "Discussions are based on trust in the dialogue partner, and deans and directors will organize a future-oriented dialogue process with medical students and monitor to ensure the medical-government council is properly conducted." They added, "We will continuously collect medical students' opinions," and "We hope you now return to your original place and become the main actors in creating new systems."

All deans and directors apologized for causing difficulties to medical students as educators and seniors and expressed regret to the public for the inconvenience caused.

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