"Don't Rescue Medical Students!" Cold Public Opinion... Opposition to Retaking the National Medical Exam

52.2% Still 'Oppose' Rescue of Medical Students Refusing National Medical Exam

On the third day of the 2021 85th Medical Licensing Examination practical test, on the 10th of last month, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist held a solo protest in front of the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, demanding the withdrawal of the public medical school. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] While the heads of major university hospitals issued a public apology and appealed for the relief of medical students who refused to take the national medical licensing exam, half of the public opposed providing relief to these students.

On the 14th, a poll conducted by Realmeter commissioned by OhmyNews on the issue of relief for medical students who did not take the national exam showed that 52.2% of respondents opposed relief, while 37.5% supported it. Those who answered "don't know" accounted for 10.3%.

By region, opposition was highest in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong (support 33.9% vs. oppose 63.3%). This was followed by Gwangju and Jeolla (33.7% vs. 58.9%), Gyeonggi and Incheon (37.8% vs. 52.6%), and Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (35.4% vs. 46.2%). In Daegu and Gyeongbuk (43.6% vs. 48.3%) and Seoul (41.2% vs. 46.9%), support and opposition were nearly even within the margin of error.

By age group, opposition was higher among those in their 40s (support 29.5% vs. oppose 63.3%), 30s (31.1% vs. 58.4%), 20s (41.8% vs. 52.9%), and 50s (38.5% vs. 52.3%).

Conversely, in the 60s age group (46.1% vs. 42.5%), support and opposition were nearly equal. Among those aged 70 and above, 22.6% responded "don't know," which was higher than the average.

This survey was conducted using random digit dialing (RDD) with an automatic response system through a sampling frame of 80% wireless and 20% landline phones. The response rate was 6.0%, and the sampling error was ±4.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the Korean Medical Association announced on the 13th that it has no plans to apologize regarding the issue of allowing fourth-year medical students to retake the national exam.

The association stated, "We would like to inform that there is absolutely no plan for a public apology concerning the issue of medical students retaking the national exam," adding, "The refusal of medical students to take the exam was a righteous act intended to voice opposition against the government's unilateral policy enforcement, so we judge that the students have no reason to apologize."

It continued, "We have already expressed multiple apologies for the inconvenience caused to the public during the general strike," and emphasized, "We urge the government to take appropriate measures to resolve the issue so that there will be no disruption in the supply of medical personnel next year."

Currently, the medical community is urging the allowance of retaking the national exam for medical students. On the 8th of this month, heads of major university hospitals apologized and asked for another chance for the students. On the previous day (the 7th), the Korean Intern Resident Association stated that if the retake is not permitted and intern recruitment issues arise at major hospitals next year, they may take collective action again.

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