KMA Requests Parliamentary Audit of Medical School Admissions Increase... Also Seeks Board of Audit and Inspection Review

"Medical reform is necessary, but the policy direction is misguided"

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has requested that the planned increase of 2,000 medical school admissions be subject to a parliamentary investigation and future government audits.

Taekwoo Kim, President of the Korean Medical Association. Yonhap News Agency

At a regular briefing held at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on May 2, Taekwoo Kim, President of the KMA, stated, "Medical reform is necessary for the sustainability of healthcare in Korea, but the current administration's policy direction is misguided and must be halted."

Kim formally requested the National Assembly to make the 'policy to increase medical school admissions by 2,000' the subject of a parliamentary investigation and future government audits. He urged, "We want to find out who drafted and decided on such an unreasonable policy, and to uncover the origins of this much-rumored policy."

He also announced that the KMA would file a petition for an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection through the national petition audit system.

Kim also proposed to presidential candidates the establishment of a 'Presidential Committee for Improving the Medical Environment.' He said, "There are many issues to address, such as the increase in medical demand due to an aging population, the hollowing out of rural areas, and problems caused by population decline. I propose to all presidential candidates that, as soon as the new government takes office, a Presidential Committee for Improving the Medical Environment of Korea be established."

He further emphasized that, separate from the reduction in admissions for 2026, the total number of medical school admissions remains at 5,058. Kim stated, "On April 30, the Korean Council for University Education announced that the medical school admissions quota for 2027 will be 5,058. By reducing admissions for only one year (2026) and then acting as if the increased quota has been corrected, the government is shifting responsibility onto the medical community."

Regarding the Ministry of Education and the council of medical school deans' announcement that students who do not return to classes by midnight on April 30 will be held back a year, Kim said, "I ask university officials to approach this issue with greater understanding so that students can return to their studies and grow into good doctors in the future. The KMA will also do its best to help students return to their rightful places."

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