Park Min-su, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare: "No adjustment of 2,000 personnel... If no doctors are available, charter flights will be arranged for treatment"

"Professors Declare Collective Action, Same Pattern
Need to Break the Cycle of Collective Action Culture in the Medical Community"

Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, appeared on YTN broadcast on the 17th and described the collective resignation movement of medical school professors as a "serious intimidation," stating, "We must break the cycle of collective action culture in the medical community."

Regarding the National Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors' statement the previous day that "the government must first lift the cap on the increase of 2,000 medical students," Vice Minister Park firmly stated, "The increase of 2,000 students is absolutely non-negotiable," adding, "Instead of worrying about the quality of medical education, worry about the medical field after the professors leave." He said, "If fees are raised without increasing the number of medical students, health insurance premiums will increase three to four times," and added, "If no doctors remain in the field due to collective action, we will charter a plane to treat patients if necessary."

Vice Minister Park emphasized that the policy to increase the number of medical students by 2,000 is "absolutely non-negotiable," and said, "The essence of the medical community's problem is forcing a retreat from a number decided after long discussions and scientific evidence by sheer force."

He continued, "If the problem is to be solved only by raising fees (the compensation paid by health insurance finances to hospitals and clinics) without increasing the number of medical students as the doctors claim, health insurance premiums would increase three to four times or more," calling it "an undesirable policy plan for the public." He also said, "Professors have even submitted resignation letters and declared collective action if their demands are not met," calling it "a serious intimidation against the public."

Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare [Photo by Yonhap News]

The National Emergency Committee of Medical School Professors held a meeting on the night of the 15th with participation from 20 medical schools, after which professors from 16 medical schools announced they would submit resignation letters on the 25th. Committee Chairman Bang Jae-seung stated at a press conference the previous day, "We believe that the government must first lift the cap on the increase of 2,000 students for an agreement to be reached, and we are submitting resignation letters to prevent a medical catastrophe."

Vice Minister Park pointed out, "Professors say they will not remain silent if their students face disciplinary action, but this is a challenging statement against the rule of law," and criticized, "They only demand the government lift the cap on 2,000 students, but make no mention of the illegal status of residents currently on strike."

Regarding professors' concerns about the decline in the quality of medical education due to a large increase in students, he said, "The issue of education quality can be sufficiently overcome through increased investment," adding, "Rather, the fact that professors are leaving the medical field and residents have already left is a bigger problem. The quality of education should not be the focus."

Vice Minister Park referred to past failures in medical policy implementation and said, "This time, we will respond differently." He added, "The pattern of professors declaring collective action if residents are targeted next is exactly the same as before," and said, "We must break this wrong cycle of collective action culture in the medical community. This time, we intend to respond differently."

Regarding the administrative suspension of licenses for residents, he said, "Pre-notifications of administrative actions have been sent to nearly 6,000 residents, and just under 100 have received them," adding, "If there is no response within the period, the suspension will soon be enforceable."

He continued, "Since a three-month license suspension is the basic penalty, it will be difficult to complete the residency program within the period if suspended for three months. It could be delayed by at least one to two years," and said, "Hospitals reportedly suffer losses of 1 to 2 billion won per day, and considering potential civil lawsuits over these losses, the burden could be enormous."

Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare [Photo by Yonhap News]

Vice Minister Park appeared on Channel A that evening and said, "Even if all doctors leave the field, we will use all means and methods to protect the lives of the people," adding, "If no doctors remain in the field in the Republic of Korea, we will charter a plane to transport and treat patients. The doctors will be held fully responsible for all costs incurred."

He criticized the collective action movement of medical school professors as "an attitude to force the government’s policy to its knees by holding the lives of the people hostage, a challenge to the public and the rule of law," and regarding residents currently on strike, he said, "They are all adults, not minors, so they must clearly bear responsibility according to law and principles for their actions."

Regarding the movement among private practitioners to reduce night and weekend medical services, he said, "Looking at past cases, there have not been many instances of continuous closures," adding, "I do not see a high possibility, and we will persuade and explain to prevent the reduction of services from being realized."

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