Government Apologizes and Promises 'Suryun Special Measures'... Will It Find a Way to Resolve Legislative Conflict?

No Disadvantages for Residents Returning to Original Hospitals
Medical School Quota for 2026 to Be Reconsidered from Scratch
Concerns Over Setting a Precedent: "Doctors Will Not Face Disadvantages"

Prime Minister and Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho and other government officials, have stepped forward to apologize to medical residents and medical students, expressing a willingness to reconsider the medical school quota for the 2026 academic year from scratch. This has drawn attention as a potential opportunity to resolve the nearly year-long conflict between the medical community and the government.

Yonhap News

According to the medical community on the 12th, the government's promise of special training and military service exemptions to resigned residents who wish to return, announced on the 10th, is interpreted as an effort to encourage residents to return in time for the training period starting in March and to normalize medical school classes for the new semester. There is also an expectation that the environment for dialogue has been created, as the 2025 medical school entrance exams are nearing completion and the Korean Medical Association, which had been operating as an emergency committee, has newly elected a president.

The government has decided not to apply the 'one-year return restriction after resignation' rule to the resident recruitment starting on the 14th, allowing resigned residents to return to their original hospitals for training. Currently, the resident training regulations restrict returning within one year after resignation, but the government will not enforce this rule. However, this exemption applies only when returning to the same training hospital with the same specialty and year of training.

Within and outside the medical community, opinions are divided regarding this special exemption measure; some see it as the minimum justification for residents' return, while others are skeptical about its practical effect in encouraging returns. The government had already offered a training exemption card to residents once last year but failed to elicit much response, and with the resident recruitment process facing disruptions in the first half of this year, many view this as a predictable measure.

The government also plans to allow residents who were subject to military service but chose to return to complete their training before enlisting as military officers or in other mandatory service roles. Currently, residents are registered as military officer candidates and are subject to enlistment under the Military Service Act upon resignation. They cannot fulfill their military duty as regular soldiers but must serve as military doctors or public health doctors (Gongbo-ui). However, with about 3,000 resigned residents registered as military officer candidates?far exceeding the usual annual military demand of around 1,000?there are concerns that it could take up to four years for all to enlist.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong are delivering a statement titled "Message to the Medical Community and Medical Education Sector" on the 10th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Furthermore, the government has pledged to actively support the improvement of medical education conditions by investing 606.2 billion won this year, ensuring that first-year medical students who took a leave of absence last year and new students this year can attend classes normally together. The government also stated that the scale of the medical school quota expansion for the 2026 academic year will be flexibly negotiated from a zero base, taking into account not only the supply and demand outlook for medical personnel but also the fact that most students could not attend classes last year and the educational conditions of each school.

Prime Minister Choi’s direct expression of apology to the residents is also expected to help resolve the nearly year-long conflict between the medical community and the government. The medical community has strongly demanded an apology from the government, and with the highest national authority making a sudden apology, there is hope that it may move the hearts of the residents. Acting Prime Minister Choi repeatedly apologized, saying, "I am sorry and saddened to the residents who temporarily put aside their dream of dedicating themselves to medicine to reconsider their career paths, as well as to the professors and medical students who have been troubled by education and class issues."

The public’s fatigue with the prolonged medical crisis is also cited as a major reason for the government’s concession. However, there is also criticism that by bowing to the residents and granting them special privileges, the government may set a precedent that doctors will not suffer disadvantages even if they engage in extreme collective actions. Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "This largely shows the government’s sincerity in communicating with the medical community and its determination to restore trust," adding, "Although there were concerns about excessive privileges, I made a magnanimous decision because I believe it is important to quickly complete medical reform for the sake of patients."

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