Medical School Professors Claim "No Basis for 2,000 People in Government Data Submitted to Court... Need to Reconsider from the Beginning"

Jeonui Association and Korean Medical Association Form 'Scientific Verification Committee'
"All evidence ends with three sentences... Need to Reconsider from the Beginning"

The medical school professors urged a complete reconsideration, stating that the data submitted by the government to the court as grounds for increasing medical school admissions lacked scientific evidence.

The Association of Medical School Professors of Korea (Jeonui Gyohyeop) and the Korean Medical Association held a press conference on the grounds and process of increasing medical school admissions at 1 p.m. on the 13th at the Korean Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Tae-won Choi peaceful@

The Korean Association of Medical School Professors (KAMSP) and the Korean Medical Association held a press conference titled "Evidence and Process for Increasing Medical School Admission Quotas" at 1 p.m. on the 13th at the Korean Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, announcing this. Kim Chang-su, president of KAMSP, said, "We agreed to form a 'Scientific Verification Committee' together with the Korean Medical Association, and since the 9th, we have been verifying materials including three reports that were known as the basis for increasing admission quotas." He added, "Although the government claimed to have held numerous meetings, there was no basis for increasing the quota by 2,000 students."

He continued, "The government's claim was based on just three sentences," adding, "It was only mentioned once during the urgent Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee (HMPDC) meeting held ahead of the scheduled press conference on February 6."

Criticism was also raised regarding the government's Medical Reform Special Committee. He said, "Press releases about major decisions are prepared before meetings, and the results after the meetings are identical," emphasizing, "The meetings should not become mere rubber stamps for government policies."

He also called for a fundamental reconsideration of the medical school quota increase. President Kim appealed to the government, saying, "We urge the government to scrap this unreasonable policy and scientifically estimate healthcare personnel, including doctors." He added, "Objective and transparent research should be conducted, and, as in foreign cases, all discussions and results should be transparently disclosed to the public to rebuild the national healthcare framework."

Claims were made that the 2,000-person increase was unilaterally notified. Lawyer Lee Byung-chul of Chan Jong Law Firm, representing medical school professors and students in lawsuits, stated, "The 2,000 increase not only lacks scientific basis but was a number decided by someone outside." He revealed, "It is a shocking fact that the Minister of Health and Welfare unilaterally notified the HMPDC and, after a mere formality, announced it at a press conference, which has now become widely known."

Earlier that day, Lawyer Lee disclosed 49 documents submitted by the government to the court as evidence for the medical school quota increase. According to him, the government submitted materials such as the HMPDC agenda, meeting minutes, and results from the 'Medical Personnel Expert Committee' under the HMPDC to the Seoul High Court, which is currently reviewing the injunction appeal related to the quota increase. The Medical Issues Consultative Body, which did not keep minutes due to consultations with the medical community, submitted a bundle of press releases, and the Medical School Quota Allocation Committee submitted summarized meeting results as reference materials.

Additionally, the package included activity reports from the Medical Education Inspection Team that conducted on-site inspections of medical education conditions at various universities, comprehensive plans for healthcare personnel, mid- to long-term supply and demand estimation studies, and research on the adequacy of medical personnel. Separate reference materials were provided for 'Overall Increase Scale Determination Data' and 'Quota Allocation and Subsequent Measures.'

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