Medical Community "Give Additional Exam Opportunities" vs National Assembly "Violation of Current Regulations"

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] As the medical community continues to demand additional exam opportunities for those who did not take the national medical licensing exam, the National Assembly has pointed out that this would violate current regulations. The government maintains that additional attempts are difficult without public consensus.

On the 30th, residents from 113 hospitals nationwide issued a statement saying, "If more than 2,700 doctors are not produced next year, there will be a significant gap in the healthcare system for years to come," and claimed, "The government is shifting all responsibility onto medical students without any realistic alternatives."

They added, "Stop actions that insult the courageous decision of medical students to withhold collective action," and stated, "If the government continues to deceive the medical-government agreement, we will actively respond again."

Previously, medical students had engaged in collective action by refusing to take the national exam (Kuksi) in opposition to government policies such as expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools. A total of 272 medical students, accounting for 86% of the exam candidates, refused to take the practical portion of the national medical licensing exam this time.

However, as the Korean Medical Association signed an agreement specifying a 're-discussion from the starting point,' the justification for collective action disappeared, and residents returned to the field. Subsequently, on the 13th, medical students announced a 'tentative suspension of collective action.'

Then, on the 24th, representatives of the fourth-year students from 40 medical schools and medical graduate schools nationwide issued a joint statement expressing their intention to retake the national exam.

In response, medical organizations such as the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC) have argued that medical students should be allowed to retake the national exam.

The newly launched Emergency Response Committee of the Korean Intern Resident Association has decided for all residents to return to work, while the schedule for the medical licensing examination has begun, and there is a growing possibility that some medical school students will express their intention to take the exam. The photo was taken on September 9 at the Korea University Medical School, Seoul, Seongbuk-gu. Photo by Yonhap News.

However, the government drew a line regarding medical students' retaking of the national exam, stating, "We inevitably have to consider fairness and equity with other national exams."

At a COVID-19 briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 29th, Kang Do-tae, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, dismissed the issue, saying, "(Regarding the medical community's continuous demands for additional exam opportunities) there is nothing specific to discuss at this time."

He emphasized that even if medical students express their intention to take the exam, it is difficult to grant another opportunity without 'public consent,' as previously stated. Regarding the 'public understanding' mentioned by the government, Vice Minister Kang responded, "It could come from various surveys representing the voices of the people and from diverse opinions through the National Assembly."

In this context, on the 30th, the National Assembly pointed out that granting an additional exam opportunity would violate current regulations.

Lee Yong-ho, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, said, "Additional exams for healthcare professional national exams are systems designed to minimize the damage to examinees caused by sudden changes in exam trends, changes in the exam system, or low pass rates," adding, "It is not something that can be judged simply by an apology from those who did not take the exam, and it is also not allowed by regulations."

As the medical community and the government once again differ in their positions on granting additional opportunities to retake the national medical licensing exam, discussions are expected to expand further. The practical portion of the national medical licensing exam began on the 8th and has entered its fourth week.

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