Handuksoo, Medical Sector Talks This Afternoon... Differences Remain on Medical School Expansion

Han Deok-su Meets Medical Sector Officials at 2 PM Today
Discussion Expected on Postponing Resident License Suspension
Irreconcilable Over 2,000 Additional Residents... Dialogue Difficulties Anticipated

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking about the withdrawal of medical school professors' resignations at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting related to the medical community's collective action held on the 22nd at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will meet with key medical sector stakeholders at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at 2 p.m. on the 26th to discuss plans for advancing medical reform. This comes just two days after President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed to have constructive dialogue with the medical community. However, given the significant differences in positions regarding the core issue of expanding medical school quotas by 2,000 students, achieving tangible results is expected to be challenging. Representatives from the Korean Association of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop) and major hospitals nationwide are expected to attend this meeting.

This meeting is a follow-up to discussions held on the 15th at Seoul National University Hospital. At that time, Prime Minister Han met with Kim Young-tae, director of Seoul National University Hospital, and members of the Emergency Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine professors, agreeing on the formation of a representative consultative body to address the issue of resident doctors leaving their posts.

Subsequently, the government finalized on the 20th the increase of medical school quotas by 2,000 students and allocated them to medical schools nationwide. In response, the medical community retaliated with collective resignations and strike leaves, deepening the conflict. However, on the 24th, President Yoon accepted the proposal from Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee leader of the People Power Party, and instructed Prime Minister Han to engage in dialogue, leading to the arrangement of this meeting.

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@

On this day, Prime Minister Han and the medical community plan to address as a key agenda item the initiation of administrative license suspension proceedings against resident doctors who have not returned to work following the work commencement order. The government had initially announced that license suspension measures would begin from this day but has decided to postpone them and instead pursue dialogue. A government official explained, "Urgent discussions are underway regarding issues such as license suspension ahead of the meeting with the medical community."

However, the most critical issue, the 2,000-student increase in medical school quotas, is difficult to compromise on, making it unlikely to achieve immediate results such as the return of resident doctors or the withdrawal of medical school professors' resignations. The government maintains that the quota increase cannot be delayed any further regardless of the dialogue.

On the other hand, the medical community continues to hold the position that no progress in dialogue is possible without the complete cancellation of the 2,000-student quota increase. Separate from the Korean Association of Medical School Professors, which positions itself as a 'mediator,' the newly confirmed executive team of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) on this day may make new collective actions such as a general strike or mass suspension of medical services more likely.

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