Government: "Minimizing Gap from Medical Students' National Exam Non-Attendance... No Change in Re-Examination Prohibition" (Update)

Ministry of Health and Welfare: "Medical Community Must Endure as Part of Government's Shared Burden"

On the 8th, the practical exam day for the 85th Medical Licensing Examination, a notice prohibiting outside visitors is posted at the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] The government has expressed its position to minimize the gap caused by the shortage of future medical personnel due to medical students not taking the national medical licensing examination (Kuksi).

Lee Chang-jun, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 7th, "A shortage of public health doctors and hospital interns is expected due to the large-scale non-attendance of medical students at the Kuksi, but this is an unavoidable issue," adding, "The medical community and the government should make efforts to minimize the gap as part of sharing the pain."

Lee stated, "Regarding the shortage of public health doctors, we are reviewing and reallocating the periods or facilities where regional public health doctors are assigned to operate in a way that minimizes medical gaps," and mentioned, "The intern shortage is a part that must be endured by utilizing other substitute personnel." He continued, "We will consult with the medical community, related local governments, and public health centers to come up with reasonable measures."

He also explained that the government's stance of 'no' regarding the re-examination of the Kuksi by medical students has not changed.

Regarding some medical students posting apology messages on the Blue House's National Petition website on the 5th, Lee said, "There is no data or information to identify individuals related to the Blue House post, so it is unknown who made the post," and added, "At present, it is judged that such measures cannot gain the public's understanding."

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