Government: "Additional discussions on medical licensing exam under condition of direct apology from medical students are inappropriate"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] The government has reiterated its stance that it will not grant additional exam opportunities to medical students who refused to take the national medical licensing exam in protest against policies such as expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools.

Lee Chang-jun, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held on the 9th, "Without the understanding of the public and without a national consensus, allowing the national exam issue is not possible," adding, "There is no change in the government's existing position."

When asked whether additional exam opportunities would be granted if medical students directly apologized following the 'proxy apology' made by major university hospital directors the day before, the policy director responded, "I think it is inappropriate to discuss conditional matters."

He continued, "The national exam issue is not a subject for negotiation," and added, "It is a matter to be comprehensively judged based on whether prospective doctors, who are to be responsible for the health of the public, can act according to standards and judgment, and whether the public will understand this."

Lee also said, "There will be various measures from the medical community in this regard in the future, and additional discussions are expected in the National Assembly as well."

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