KMA President: "16th is the Death Sentence Day for Korean Medical System"

The Court Issued a Ruling Contrary to Public Welfare

Amid the resignation letters submitted by medical school professors nationwide taking effect, on the 26th, a visitor is sitting in front of the emergency room of a large hospital in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Regarding the Seoul High Court Administrative Division 7's dismissal and rejection of the suspension of execution application filed by medical students, professors, and others against the Ministers of Health and Welfare and Education concerning the increase and allocation of medical school quotas, Im Hyun-taek, President of the Korea Medical Association, called it "a death sentence for the healthcare system."

On the 17th, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' President Im said, "I believe the court made a ruling against the public welfare," adding, "By taking the same stance as the government, they have thoroughly destroyed our country's healthcare system itself."

President Im reported that residents are in a state of despair, saying, "They have no intention of returning at all." He explained, "They are willing to repeat a year or even open private clinics, but under no circumstances will they return while suffering and being humiliated like this."

He also said that medical school professors are very agitated. He stated, "They say they must properly show action that they cannot adequately teach students and residents," and added, "The KMA (Korea Medical Association), the National Association of Medical School Professors, and the Korean Medical Association (University Medical Association) have decided to issue a statement like the full-time residents did." In February, clinical instructors and full-time residents from 82 training hospitals, including the 'Big 5' hospitals, issued a statement saying that if things continue as they are, they will not be able to continue their medical careers.

Regarding the government's plan to increase the quota by 2,000, he criticized it as "not understanding the medical field." President Im said that even though the now-closed Seonam University had a quota of 49 students, it could not properly educate them, adding, "There was not even a training hospital." He also mentioned that Kwandong University, acquired by the Catholic Foundation, used to conduct classes in containers built on the rooftop of a secondary general hospital, indicating poor conditions. Referring to the plan to increase Chungbuk University's quota from 49 to 200, he said, "There has been no government investment so far. It is difficult to find basic medical science professors nationwide, such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Is it possible?" and added, "There are no (foreign) professors coming into the country."

Even if they file an appeal, it will take about 3 to 4 months. The admission quota for next year must be announced by next month at the latest, but the Ministry of Education intends to proceed with the medical school quota according to the government's opinion. President Im said, "If the Supreme Court clearly understands the seriousness of the situation, it should make the right judgment beforehand," adding, "If they hurry, it will be possible."

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