Medical Professors: "Please Help Our Students Take the National Medical Exam... Concerns Over Imbalanced Doctor Supply"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] Medical school professors visited the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) for the second day, appealing to allow medical students to take the practical exam of the national medical licensing examination.

On the 6th, the ACRC held an emergency meeting at the Government Seoul Office with the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools (KAMC), composed of deans and directors from 40 medical colleges and medical graduate schools. Han Hee-cheol, chairman of KAMC and a professor at Korea University College of Medicine, said, "Please forgive us for causing concern over our students' licensing exam issues," and added, "Since this is a national crisis situation, please help us wisely overcome the current licensing exam problem."

Han Jae-jin, dean of Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, also stated, "If medical students cannot take the exam this year, there will be concerns about a shortage of doctors and medical service gaps," and requested, "We ask the ACRC to resolve the issue well."

The National Medical Professors' Council and the chairpersons of the 25 district medical associations in Seoul also visited the ACRC the previous day to raise similar complaints.

In response, ACRC Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee emphasized that a national consensus must be formed first.

She urged, "Please persuade the students to definitely take the written exam, which starts accepting applications from today," and replied, "Allowing students to take the practical national licensing exam requires public consensus. We will carefully consider the opinions of the public, the medical community, and related organizations, and do our best to resolve the issue."

This year, 86% of the 3,172 eligible candidates for the practical licensing exam refused to take it in opposition to the expansion of medical school quotas. The government has expressed reluctance to allow retakes, citing fairness and public acceptance issues.

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