Hospital Director: "If Medical Students Are Allowed to Take the National Exam, They Will Become Doctors for the People Unlike in the Past"

Kim Young-hoon, Director of Korea University Medical Center, "Serious Concern Over Medical Service Gaps"
"Medical Students Refusing National Exams, Asking for One More Chance" Appeal

Kim Yeon-su, Director of Seoul National University Hospital; Yoon Dong-seop, Director of Yonsei University Medical Center; Kim Young-hoon, Director of Korea University Medical Center; and Kim Young-mo, Director of Inha University Medical Center, along with other major university hospital directors, are issuing an apology statement on the 8th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, regarding the issue of fourth-year medical students not taking the national medical licensing examination. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Heads of major university hospitals and medical centers have issued a public apology, urging that medical students be allowed to take the national medical licensing examination (KMLE).

On the 8th, Kim Young-hoon, Director of Korea University Medical Center, stated at the Government Seoul Office, "We apologize to the public for causing concern over the issue of medical students' national examination during these difficult times due to COVID-19," and requested that medical students who previously refused to take the exam be allowed to take it once again.

Director Kim said, "At this critical moment when it is uncertain when the COVID-19 pandemic will end, the situation where about 2,700 doctors cannot be produced immediately is an unimaginable and serious medical gap," adding, "There is a grave concern about the deterioration of medical quality."

Earlier in August, resident groups and the Korean Medical Association led a general strike in protest against the government's health care policies, and most medical students also participated in collective leave and refusal to take the KMLE. Although the government, ruling party, and medical community reached an agreement and withdrew collective actions, most medical students did not withdraw their cancellation intentions even after additional exam registration, resulting in only about 14% of the candidates, 446 students, taking the exam this year. Despite the government repeatedly stating that additional registration for the KMLE is difficult, major large hospitals are facing emergencies due to potential disruptions in staffing such as interns.

Director Kim said, "As a medical professional responsible for public health and as a senior, I am still by patients' sides and doing my best in COVID-19 prevention, but I deeply reflect on not winning the hearts of the public," and added, "Please direct your reproach to the seniors."

He continued, "I earnestly hope that medical students who have devoted more than six years to their studies and are well prepared can be allowed the opportunity to take the national examination so that they can be born as future doctors and protect the public," and said, "If the KMLE is normalized this time, I believe these medical students will be born as true doctors for the people, different from before."

Along with Director Kim, Kim Yeon-soo, Director of Seoul National University Hospital, Yoon Dong-seop, Director of Yonsei University Medical Center, and Kim Young-mo, Director of Inha University Medical Center, planned to meet with Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, after issuing the statement to discuss the re-examination of the KMLE.

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