The Korean Society of Internal Medicine "Expresses Support and Solidarity with Residents"

"Call for Establishing a Rational Medical School Quota Policy"

The Korean Society of Internal Medicine, a pillar of essential medical care, has expressed support and solidarity with resident doctors.

On the 23rd, the Korean Society of Internal Medicine stated in a press release, "The Korean Society of Internal Medicine and related societies express support and solidarity with the unified actions of resident doctors in Korea to protest against the government's reckless increase in medical school admissions and insincere comprehensive measures for essential and regional medical care."

The society explained, "The reason residents have submitted their resignations despite the sacrifices is due to a sense of loss and frustration that continuing the specialist training process has become meaningless," adding, "A significant number of these residents are internal medicine trainees who play a crucial role in maintaining essential medical care." It continued, "In recent years, the number of doctors applying for internal medicine has been decreasing," and "this is because the government's policy consideration for the training process in essential medical fields, which are difficult due to high risks of medical accidents and the need to always be prepared for emergencies, is absurdly insufficient."

Criticism was also raised regarding the impracticality of the government's policy plans. They said, "The essential medical care policy plan announced by the government is nothing more than flashy rhetoric. The plan to invest 10 trillion won over five years lacks even a method for securing funds and is lacking in specificity," adding, "Given that the annual medical budget approaches 120 trillion won, there is little confidence that an annual investment of 2 trillion won will effectively help establish an efficient essential medical care system."

Concerns about the decline in the quality of medical education due to the increase in medical school admissions were also raised. The society stated, "The government is refusing even constructive discussions," and "The Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools proposed a reasonable alternative to increase admissions by 350 students in the 2025 academic year to help establish measures for essential and regional medical care, secure funding for future education, and observe the supply and demand of medical personnel as well as the visible outcomes of the government's proposed essential medical care system improvements, with plans for further discussions, but there has been no response from the government side."

They urged the government to prepare plans for increasing medical school admissions through discussions with expert groups. They said, "We urge the government to withdraw its excessive decision to increase medical school admissions and to prepare a reasonable policy on medical school quotas through renewed discussions with expert organizations," adding, "We will actively participate in creating reasonable essential and regional medical care policies and cooperate in establishing a system where many medical students and residents can willingly nurture their dreams of entering those fields."

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