Despite Medical Students' Public Apology... Government Says "No Retake" (Comprehensive Report 2)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Jo Hyun-ui] Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated on the 7th that the public’s acceptance of additional applications for the national medical licensing examination (KMLE) would not increase with just an apology from some medical school students. He reaffirmed the existing stance that "there will be no retake."

At the Health and Welfare Committee’s audit session held at the National Assembly that day, in response to a question from Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding the apology letter from medical students posted on the Blue House’s public petition site, Minister Park said, "I think it is a sincere apology," but added, "I don’t think the acceptance of additional KMLE applications by the public will increase just because of an apology from a few individuals."

So far, the government has stated that it is difficult to grant additional exam opportunities without public understanding due to issues of fairness and equity compared to other national exams.

The government estimates that the shortage of public medical personnel caused by the collective non-participation of medical students in this year’s KMLE is around 400 people. Accordingly, preparations are being made separately for the medical gaps that may arise in the future.

Minister Park said, "We are considering adjusting personnel deployment mainly in areas where existing medical personnel are present and new doctors are not necessarily required, and having residents and specialized nurses act as medical assistants," adding, "Furthermore, we plan to significantly increase hospitalist positions to compensate for the role of interns."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare also expressed the same position that day. Lee Chang-jun, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry, said at a briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong, in response to related questions, "The government’s position on retaking the KMLE has not changed."

He drew a line by saying, "Even if such a petition post was made, at this point, it is not considered a matter that can gain public understanding for additional KMLE applications." When asked whether the petitioner was indeed a medical student, he said, "There is no data or information in the post that can identify the individual, so we do not know who posted it."

Director Lee said, "Regarding the shortage of public health doctors, we have no choice but to endure by reallocating deployment periods and facilities and utilizing other substitute personnel for the intern shortage," adding, "We will continue to consult with the medical community, related local governments, and public health centers to come up with reasonable measures."

Earlier, on the 5th, a petition titled "A medical student who canceled the KMLE registration humbly apologizes to the public" was submitted on the Blue House’s public petition website. The petitioner claimed to be a fourth-year medical student and requested an opportunity to retake the exam.

He said, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public by refusing to take the KMLE," and added, "Although there were multiple opportunities to take the exam, students voluntarily decided not to take it. Now, after a long time, they are showing a contradictory attitude by saying they are 'waiting for the government’s magnanimous decision,' which the public cannot easily accept."

However, he emphasized the necessity of allowing medical students to retake the KMLE as concerns about medical gaps are becoming a reality. He said, "It is too shameful and utterly embarrassing to ask the public for lenient understanding, and at this point, when it is unknown when COVID-19 will end, it is even more shameful to ask the public to endure the imminent medical gaps and the resulting decline in the quality of community healthcare."

He further stressed, "Medical gaps do not simply last for one year. One year without interns leads to a gap in the first year of residents as time passes, and this vicious cycle causes significant damage to the medical system over a long period exceeding five years."

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