Yoon: "Increasing Medical School Enrollment by 2,000 Is the Minimum... Medical Reform Cannot Be Subject to Negotiation or Compromise"

6th Central Regional Cooperation Meeting Held
"Acceptance of Medical Sector Demands Including Strengthening Compensation for Essential Medical Care"
Doctors' Collective Action "Cannot Be Justified on Any Grounds"
Promotion of 'Inter-Ministerial Support Headquarters' for Success of Neulbom School

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 6th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House's State Guest House on the 27th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 27th, "The increase of 2,000 medical school admissions is the minimum scale necessary to address the shortage of doctors," adding, "Medical reform cannot be a subject of negotiation or compromise."

At the 6th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the Blue House State Guesthouse that afternoon, President Yoon said, "Engaging in collective actions that hold the public hostage and threaten the lives and safety of the people cannot be justified under any pretext." He reiterated his intention to confront demands from the medical community and opposition parties to adjust the scale of medical school admissions increase.

President Yoon emphasized, "It is difficult to justify collective actions that hold the health and lives of the people hostage and threaten their safety under any pretext," and added, "Opposing the increase in medical school admissions solely based on the vested interests of resident doctors without scientific evidence is unacceptable."

This meeting was the first occasion since the Central-Local Cooperation Meeting was established where all 17 provincial governors and education superintendents gathered in one place. It was convened to discuss two agenda items: 'medical reform' and 'preparations for the 2024 Neulbom School.'

Regarding medical reform, President Yoon stated, "We are pushing forward medical reform with a sense of urgency as the last chance to save the people and regions in response to increasing medical demand due to aging and the development of advanced bio-industries. As part of medical reform, the government has fully accepted the medical community's demands, including increasing the number of doctors, reducing judicial risks, and strengthening compensation for essential medical services," expressing regret that "despite this, doctors are engaging in collective actions."

Last year, President Yoon visited Seoul National University Hospital's Children's Hospital in February and Chungbuk National University Hospital in October to announce measures for pediatric care and local and essential medical services. This month, he held a public discussion on medical reform at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital and announced a four-policy package for medical reform.

Despite doctors' opposition, he reiterated that the expansion of medical school admissions by 2,000 is inevitable. President Yoon stressed, "Even if we increase medical school admissions now, it will take 10 years for the number of doctors to increase, so we cannot delay any longer."

Additionally, President Yoon expressed gratitude, saying, "Cooperation between central and local governments is important to prevent gaps in patient care. I also thank the public, who are cooperating with mature civic awareness despite great inconvenience in medical settings, and the medical staff?including doctors and nurses?who are silently dedicating themselves to patients at this very moment."

Establishment of Neulbom School Inter-Ministerial Support Headquarters: "Full Support"

He also announced plans to establish the 'Neulbom School Inter-Ministerial Support Headquarters' to provide full support for the success of Neulbom School. Since the state taking responsibility for child care through 'public care' will reduce parents' burdens and could be a key to solving the low birthrate problem, the government aims to build a support system at the national level.

President Yoon explained the necessity of the Neulbom School Inter-Ministerial Support Headquarters, saying, "Upon reviewing the preparation status of Neulbom School, there is a significant difference in the number of participating schools by region. Since parents' concerns and worries are the same regardless of where they live nationwide, we must ensure that the benefits of Neulbom School are evenly enjoyed in all regions." He also repeatedly emphasized plans to encourage active participation from businesses, universities, and the private sector in society.

In particular, President Yoon urged, "Political factionalism or calculations of political gains and losses must never interfere in this matter."

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, mentioned the preparation status of Neulbom School and the disparities in preparation by region and school conditions. Participants shared examples of cooperation by province related to operating programs, spaces, personnel, and governance, and discussed additional cooperation measures for Neulbom School operation.

During the discussion, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education introduced a case where local universities and institutions cooperated to develop and operate distinctive programs tailored to students' growth stages. The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education shared a case of collaborating with local governments to secure spaces to address excess demand for care. Gangwon Province introduced the establishment of the Gangwon-type Neulbom cooperation system among the provincial government, education office, local governments, Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute, and elementary schools, linking social service-type senior job projects with Neulbom School.

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