Jeonui Medical Association Says "Hundreds of Trillions Will Be Needed" to Secure Infrastructure for Medical School Expansion

It Takes 4 Years and 25 Billion Won Just to Improve Existing Medical School Facilities

The Korean Association of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop) expressed the opinion that it is realistically difficult to secure the necessary facilities and faculty for the government's plan to increase medical school admissions in the 2025 academic year.

On the afternoon of the 20th, Cho Yoon-jung, the publicity committee chair of Jeonui Gyohyeop's emergency committee, said during an online briefing, "It took four years just to renovate and improve existing medical school buildings, so I don't know if they think they can admit students first and then build new buildings. It is unimaginable to me." Earlier, Cho cited the example of facility improvements at Korea University College of Medicine, stating that it took 25 billion KRW and four years to improve the medical school to accommodate up to 130 students per grade.

A medical school in Seoul on the 20th, when the results of the increased medical school admission quota distribution, which triggered conflicts between the medical community and the government, were announced. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Ministry of Education said in an afternoon briefing that additional facilities and faculty needed according to the scale of medical school admissions would be reflected in the budget through demand surveys by each university. However, Cho explained that even if support is practically provided, it would be difficult to prepare the necessary facilities within the required time. He said, "Study rooms and simulation centers will need to be about twice the current size," adding, "Just thinking about buildings, it would take about four to five years to build another identical building."

Cho also said, "There is no magic wand like in Harry Potter to build the additional medical school facilities," and added, "I don't know if public universities can receive funding, but if not, it will be very complicated to figure out where to get the money."

He also anticipated difficulties in recruiting professors, teaching assistants, and other staff necessary for classes and practical training. Cho expressed concern, saying, "It might cost hundreds of trillions of won to recruit all the professors, teaching assistants, and various staff."

Meanwhile, Jeonui Gyohyeop emphasized the need for communication with the government. Cho said, "(Doctors) also have responsibilities. We will try to find a consensus," and added, "The Korean Medical School and Graduate School Student Association, the Korean Intern Resident Association, Jeonui Gyohyeop, and the Korean Medical Association will all work together."

Among these groups, except for the Korean Medical Association, three organizations plan to hold an online extraordinary general meeting at 8 p.m. on the same day to discuss response measures to the government's medical school expansion and allocation.

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