[Full Text] Korean Prime Minister "Thanks to Medical Staff Who Protected the Field... Complete the Reform"

Law, Request to Suspend Medical School Expansion Dismissed and Rejected
Han Deok-su: "Major Hurdle Overcome in Medical School Expansion and Healthcare Reform"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo expressed his deep gratitude for the court's wise decision to dismiss and reject the medical community's request for a suspension of enforcement regarding the increase in medical school quotas, stating, "I will fulfill the medical reform with a sense of mission."

On the 16th, through a public address at the Government Seoul Office, Prime Minister Han said, "I thank the medical staff who have protected the medical field, and above all, I am proud to be able to deliver good news to the citizens who have sick family members at home," adding, "Although there remains an unresolved challenge of collective action by the medical community, the court's decision has allowed our people and government to overcome a major obstacle blocking medical reform."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho, and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong are moving on the 16th at the Government Seoul Office to announce a public address regarding medical school quotas.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Referring to medical school professors who announced a 'one-week strike' in protest of the court's decision, Prime Minister Han pointed out, "The practice of collective action holding patients' lives hostage will no longer be accepted by the public." He urged the medical community, saying, "I hope you will end the exhausting conflicts and confrontations with the government and participate in the Medical Reform Special Committee," and added, "I believe that both the medical community and the government share the same commitment to medical advancement and patient protection."

The Seoul High Court Administrative Division 7 on the same day dismissed and partially rejected the appeal for suspension of enforcement filed by 18 individuals including medical school professors, residents, medical students, and exam candidates, who requested the government to halt the enforcement of the decision to increase medical school quotas. With the court's decision, the government can continue with the increase in medical school quotas.

Full text of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's public address

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho, and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong are delivering a public address regarding medical school quotas at the Government Seoul Office on the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Dear citizens, the Seoul High Court Administrative Division 7 has today issued a decision to dismiss and partially reject the appeal for suspension of enforcement filed by 18 individuals including medical school professors, residents, medical students, and exam candidates. The plaintiffs requested a temporary suspension of administrative procedures related to the increase in medical school quotas until the court makes a final judgment on the legality of the quota increase.

The court dismissed the requests from medical school students citing significant concerns for public welfare and dismissed the rest due to lack of standing. I deeply appreciate the judiciary's wise judgment. Although the main lawsuit remains, today's decision allows the government to overcome a major hurdle in advancing the increase in medical school quotas and medical reform.

I extend my condolences to the exam candidates and parents who have anxiously followed the lawsuit and thank you for enduring this together with the government. I also thank each medical professional who has protected the medical field. Above all, I am proud to be able to deliver good news to citizens with sick family members at home.

Although the unresolved challenge of collective action by the medical community remains, today's court decision has allowed our people and government to overcome a major obstacle blocking medical reform. I understand the worries and confusion you have experienced. The emotional and practical hardships have not been insignificant. I sincerely apologize for the pain endured by the citizens. Nevertheless, this is a path we must take.

With the judiciary's wise decision, the government will promptly complete the procedures related to the 2025 university admissions to prevent further confusion. We will first expedite the revision of university regulations and the confirmation of admission quotas. The revision of university regulations following the government's decision to increase medical school quotas is a mandatory obligation under the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act. Universities that are still revising or require re-examination of their regulations should promptly complete the related procedures in accordance with legal obligations. We will actively support the Korea Council for University Education to approve university admission plans and announce individual university quotas by the end of May as originally scheduled.

We will also ensure the quality of medical education. Some in the medical community worry that increasing the quota by 2,000 will degrade the quality of medical education. We will ensure that this does not happen. Rather, we will take this opportunity to establish an 'Advanced Medical Education Plan' to create education conditions at the level of advanced countries and implement it swiftly. In April, we surveyed the educational needs of 32 medical schools that had already increased their quotas, and based on this, we are preparing a focused investment plan and the recruitment of 1,000 additional professors at national universities.

To the medical community, some medical school professors have announced a one-week strike in opposition to this decision, but I ask you to respect the judiciary's ruling. The practice of collective action holding patients' lives hostage will no longer be accepted by the public. Please return to your primary duties of training students and treating patients.

I earnestly ask the medical community to end the exhausting conflicts and confrontations with the government and participate in constructive dialogue and discussions for the future of Korea's healthcare. Regardless of the stance of 'complete cancellation,' please join the Medical Reform Special Committee, a forum for discussing the establishment of an advanced future medical system. I believe that both the medical community and the government share the same commitment to the advancement of Korean healthcare and patient protection. If we rebuild mutual trust through dialogue, I am confident we can become partners in valuable reforms for the future.

To the residents, it is time to return. Please stop collective action in accordance with the judiciary's judgment and the will of the people and return to the hospitals. Medical students, please also return to your schools and daily lives as soon as possible. Please resume your precious dreams of becoming excellent doctors who save patients by returning to your rightful places promptly.

Dear citizens, we are currently going through difficult and challenging times toward the goal of medical reform, which must be achieved. Thanks to the medical staff who have stayed in hospitals and sacrificed their daily lives, the emergency medical system is being maintained, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain this. I am deeply saddened by the pain and inconvenience experienced by the public. All reforms are painful, but medical reform is especially so.

However, if we stop here because it is difficult and challenging, our descendants will soon face greater pain and higher costs. If we neglect essential medical services and the collapse of regional healthcare, we cannot be called a responsible government. No matter how difficult, we will move forward step by step with the people without interruption. With a sense of mission, we will complete medical reform so that the pain we endure now is not magnified and passed on to future generations.

As always, we will focus solely on the people. Thank you.

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