Yoon: "The Medical Profession Cartel Becomes More Solidified... We Can No Longer Afford to Repeat Failures" (Comprehensive)

Medical Reform Public Address
"We Can No Longer Repeat Failures
Apologies for Delayed Resolution of Inconveniences"
Emphasizing Determined Stance on Medical Reform in a Firm Tone

On the 1st, amid the prolonged medical-government conflict over the plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students, citizens at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, are watching President Yoon Seok-yeol's national address regarding healthcare reform. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 1st, "Previous administrations fought nine times and lost all nine times, and the doctors' professional cartel has only become more entrenched," adding, "We can no longer afford to repeat such failures." He also emphasized that a compromise on the medical school expansion of 2,000 students, as proposed by the medical community, is practically difficult. However, President Yoon said, "The medical community must present a unified proposal to the government based on solid scientific evidence," and added, "If they bring a more reasonable and rational plan, we can discuss it anytime."

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon held a national address titled "A Message to the People" at the Yongsan Presidential Office, stating, "Increasing the number of doctors is a national task that can no longer be delayed to correct the abnormal structure."

This is President Yoon's third national address. Previously, he addressed the nation in October 2022 regarding the Itaewon tragedy and in November last year concerning the failure to secure the Busan Expo. Delivering another address just ten days before the general election is interpreted as an effort to thoroughly explain the necessity of expanding medical school quotas amid growing concerns over medical service gaps caused by collective actions by resident doctors and medical school professors, to express gratitude to the public enduring inconveniences, and to appeal for their support.

Yoon: The Government Carefully Calculated the '2,000' Figure

Notably, President Yoon's remarks that day were more resolute than usual, demonstrating his firm determination to complete medical reform. He said, "In the past 27 years, no administration has succeeded in increasing the number of doctors and implementing medical reform, which 90% of the public supports," suggesting once again that now is the right time to achieve reforms that previous governments could not. President Yoon emphasized, "The monopoly power held by doctors includes the heavy responsibility of protecting the lives and health of the people," and added, "Therefore, doctors have a legal obligation to comply with medical laws."

He also dismissed the possibility of adjusting the proposed increase of 2,000 medical students advocated by the medical community. President Yoon stated, "The figure of 2,000 is the minimum increase carefully calculated by the government, and we had extensive discussions with medical organizations and the medical community before deciding this." He devoted a significant portion of his address to explaining the discussion process, refuting claims by some in the medical community that the discussions were insufficient as distortions of the facts.

President Yoon raised his voice, vowing not to repeat past mistakes where attempts to increase medical school quotas were repeatedly blocked by doctors' opposition. He explained that during the 2000 separation of drug prescribing and dispensing, the government yielded to demands from doctors' organizations and gradually reduced medical school quotas by 351 students until 2006. Considering the reduced quotas, about 7,000 doctors have not been produced to date, and by 2035, this number will reach 10,000. President Yoon expressed concern, saying, "Recently, nearly 600 to 700 doctors leave annually for cosmetic surgery," and "As a result, the number of doctors responsible for essential medical care is decreasing by nearly 1,000 each year compared to 20 years ago."

He also reiterated the purpose of medical reform to doctors worried about income reduction. President Yoon said, "The government's medical reform is not intended to lower doctors' incomes," adding, "While income disparities between essential and non-essential medical services and between regional and metropolitan healthcare will decrease, the overall income of doctors will not decrease compared to now." He projected that markets requiring doctors, such as bio, new drugs, and medical devices, will expand tremendously with the development of the medical industry.

Yoon: "Medical Reform Is Not About Political Gains"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a "Message to the People" regarding medical reform at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He directly refuted opinions that lack of communication with the medical community would negatively affect the general election, stating that medical reform is not pursued based on political gains. President Yoon pointed out, "The medical community is even threatening the government by saying they will intervene in the general election and calling for the government's resignation," adding, "Such behavior threatens not me as president but the people."

He raised the level of criticism toward the medical community's behavior, which fiercely opposes the expansion of medical school quotas despite the government's efforts to engage in dialogue. "The medical community, which had remained silent when the government requested specific numbers for the increase, is now throwing out various numbers like 350, 500, and 1,000 without any basis," he said. "Moreover, they are threatening that the number should be reduced by 500 to 1,000 compared to now."

Yoon: "If You Want to Reduce the Increase, Present a Unified Proposal"

He continued, "If the medical community insists on reducing the increase from 2,000, they must present a unified proposal to the government based on solid scientific evidence, not through collective actions."

President Yoon said, "They must immediately stop illegal collective actions and bring reasonable proposals and evidence," adding, "The government cannot halt or suspend a duly reviewed and legitimate policy process based on the logic of power without evidence."

He promised the medical community massive financial investment to make the competitiveness of medicine and the medical industry the best in the world. Cooperation from the medical community is essential to establish a proper medical system through medical reform. President Yoon said, "If you want to take collective action, do it not while opposing the increase but when I fail to keep the promises I made to you," adding, "Medical organizations should sit at the table with the government as soon as possible and discuss what is the right path for the lives and health of the people."

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