Medical Community vs Government, Conflict Peaks Today Over 'Uihyeop General Rally'

As the Korean Medical Association (KMA) plans to hold simultaneous rallies on the 15th in protest against the expansion of medical school admission quotas, the conflict between the medical community and the government is reaching its peak. The president of the resident doctors' association (interns and residents) announced plans to submit a 'resignation letter,' and there has even been a proposal for a 'collective leave of absence' from medical students. On the upcoming weekend, the 17th, the medical community is expected to decide on directions for strikes and other forms of protest. The government has stated that while it respects lawful expressions of opinion, it will respond strictly according to laws and principles if patients' lives and health are threatened.

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Fourth-year students at Hallym University College of Medicine have decided to suspend their studies for one year in protest against the expansion of medical school quotas. This is the first time that medical students have collectively acted in response to the government's increase in medical school admissions. Until now, the medical community has maintained a cautious stance, considering public opinion, as the government has stated it will respond according to laws and principles to collective actions such as mass resignation submissions or strikes related to the quota increase. However, the Korean Medical Students Association (KMSA), composed of representatives from 40 medical schools nationwide, has expressed willingness to participate in collective action opposing the government's quota increase, drawing attention to whether this will strengthen collective action within the medical community. The KMSA stated, "The agenda 'I, as a representative of my school, agree on the necessity of promoting collective action and am willing to lead it' was unanimously passed by all 40 unit representatives," adding, "Within a few days, we will survey participation in the collective leave of absence and, after a resolution, will officially commence collective action."

There is also analysis that the message from Park Dan, president of the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA), who announced plans to submit a resignation letter, could serve as a 'signal flare.' Park, a resident in the emergency medicine department at Severance Hospital, posted on social media that he plans to submit his resignation on February 20. He said, "I am giving up my training and leaving the emergency room to regain lost peace and happiness," adding, "I will always support my fellow doctors' freedom of choice. Please do not engage in collective action." However, there are concerns that Park's resignation might lead to a collective resignation.

On the same day, Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, emphasized at the regular briefing of the Central Accident Response Headquarters for doctors' collective action, "We will make every effort to prevent such actions from spreading and escalating into collective action under any circumstances." Regarding the medical students' collective leave of absence, Park said, "Medical students are not yet licensed medical practitioners, so they are not subject to the Medical Service Act," adding, "Therefore, we will work with the Ministry of Education to persuade students not to participate in collective action as much as possible." On Park Dan's remarks urging restraint from collective action, he said, "It can be interpreted both as sincere and as an evasion following the 'ban on inciting collective action' order, but the government will strive to prevent escalation into collective action."

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Meanwhile, the KMA Emergency Committee, opposing the expansion of medical school quotas, plans to hold its first meeting on the 17th to decide on specific protest measures.

The Emergency Committee was formed after former KMA president Lee Pil-su expressed his intention to resign following the government's announcement on the 6th to increase medical school admissions by 2,000. The committee criticizes the government's announcement as being made without communication with the medical community. It also disputes the government's claim that the quota increase is necessary due to a shortage of doctors.

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At a press conference held the previous day at the KMA building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Kim Taek-woo, chairman of the KMA Emergency Committee, stated, "The government says that Korea has fewer doctors per 1,000 people than the OECD average and that there is a shortage of doctors, but we see no signs of the phenomena that occur when doctors are truly lacking," adding, "Over the past 23 years, the population under 15 has decreased by 3.5 million, while pediatricians have increased by 2,500. The disruption in pediatric care is due to reasons other than a shortage of doctors." He further said, "Currently, the total quota for 40 medical schools is 3,000, and increasing it by 2,000 at once is equivalent to creating 24 new medical schools," adding, "This will lower the quality of education and become a black hole that absorbs all of Korea's talent."

He declared, "We will definitely block the government's unreasonable push to increase medical school quotas," and added, "We will be a focal point that responds unitedly, undeterred by any intimidation, adversity, or trials." He also said, "We plan to hold the first Emergency Committee meeting on the 17th to discuss and decide on future protest plans and roadmaps."

The government has unveiled plans to expand telemedicine and utilize Physician Assistant (PA) nurses in preparation for potential collective actions by residents or medical students that could impact medical sites.

Vice Minister Park said on MBC radio that morning, "If residents go on strike and hospital functions are affected, we will explore ways to better utilize existing personnel," adding, "We will fully expand telemedicine and consider enabling PA support staff to take on more active roles."

PA nurses assist in operating rooms, support examinations and procedures, handle specimen requests, and assist in emergencies, partially substituting for doctors. Known as 'operating room nurses' or 'clinical nurse specialists,' more than 10,000 are active nationwide. Currently, telemedicine is mainly limited to follow-up patients, but exceptions allow initial consultations in medically underserved areas or during holidays and nights. During residents' collective actions, there is speculation that telemedicine could be temporarily expanded to cover initial consultations without exceptions.

Since both policies have faced opposition from the medical community, these measures are interpreted as 'pressure cards' against potential medical strikes.

While preparing for emergencies, the government has also appealed to medical personnel.

Vice Minister Park said, "We have prepared emergency medical response plans, including using military hospitals for emergency room use, utilizing public medical institutions for emergency system response, and extending working hours of existing personnel to minimize disruption to medical services," adding, "The government will mobilize all available means to maintain normal medical systems and respond to ensure that the health and lives of the public are never threatened by doctors' collective actions."

He also said, "At today's Central Accident Response Headquarters meeting, we discussed measures to improve working conditions for residents," adding, "We will promptly pursue improvements to the 36-hour continuous work system and expand the placement of supervising specialists to reduce residents' excessive workload and ensure quality training." The plan is to develop an improvement model within the first half of the year and begin full implementation in the second half. Starting in March, a dedicated support desk for residents' rights protection will be established, strengthening legal advice and counseling for residents exposed to verbal abuse and power harassment.

Vice Minister Park urged, "There was false news claiming that individual resignations disguised as collective resignation letters would cause medical service gaps. Fortunately, this was proven false, but actions that use patients' lives and health as tools tarnish the honor of dedicated doctors," and asked, "Please do not be swayed by such claims."

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