Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine Faculty Association: "Government and KMA Must Make Mutual Concessions... 500 Additional Medical Students Appropriate"

Survey Results Announced for Sungkyunkwan University Medical School Professors
55% Support Increasing Medical School Enrollment, 350-500 Students Appropriate

The Faculty Council of Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine urged both the government and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) to make concessions.

On the 21st, a university hospital in downtown Seoul was crowded with visitors amid growing concerns of a medical crisis due to collective resignations and work stoppages by residents protesting the increase in medical school quotas. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 25th, Hong Seung-bong, chairman of the Faculty Council of Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, stated, "The victims of the current medical crisis are all patients with severe and intractable diseases, and by next month, the medical crisis will turn into a disaster," adding, "Both the government and the KMA must make magnanimous concessions."

Chairman Hong explained that if new interns and residents do not enter next month, there will be no legal or administrative means to impose sanctions, and without them, the entire treatment process, including hospitalization and surgeries at university hospitals, will inevitably be paralyzed. Regarding this, Hong said, "The government should stop its unilateral policy of increasing quotas, and medical organizations should halt street protests and sit at the negotiation table."

Hong also disclosed the results of a survey conducted over two days, from the 23rd to the 24th, targeting professors at Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine regarding the increase in medical school quotas. According to the Faculty Council, out of 201 professors who responded, 50 (24.9%) opposed increasing the medical school quota, 42 (20.9%) supported an increase of 350 students, which is the level before the separation of prescribing and dispensing, and 50 (24.9%) supported an increase of 500 students. Ten (5%) supported an increase of 1,000 students, and eight (4%) supported an increase of 2,000 students. The rest responded that they basically support the increase.

The Faculty Council stated, "Summarizing the survey results, 25% opposed increasing the medical school quota, while 55% supported it, which was higher," and "The majority, 92 professors, supported an increase of 350 to 500 students."

As solutions to essential medical care and the collapse of regional healthcare, the following were proposed: ▲ fee increases ▲ establishment of a medical delivery system ▲ legal protection measures in case of medical accidents.

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