"South Korean Government Increasingly Coercive"... Medical Students Seek Support from International Organizations

Medical students opposing the government's plan to increase medical school quotas have sent a statement to an overseas medical student organization requesting support.

The Korean Medical Students Association (KMSA) publicly released a statement on social media on the 4th addressed to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). Founded in 1951, IFMSA is an international medical student organization with approximately 1.3 million medical students from 130 countries worldwide.

In the statement, KMSA expressed regret to inform that they are facing an unprecedented crisis, stating that "the government suddenly announced a highly controversial 'Essential Medical Policy Package,' leading residents to resign and medical students to engage in strike actions." They added, "We believe the (Essential Medical Policy) package is based on flawed data and incomplete assumptions and fails to address the current problems within the Korean healthcare system. We believe education should not become a medium for populism."

On the 4th, a notice for extended night-time medical services was posted at Incheon Medical Center in Dong-gu, Incheon, where collective action by residents in training has continued for two weeks.
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Furthermore, they wrote, "The (Korean) government is becoming evermore tyrannical, issuing orders and threats, and making doctors and medical students appear incriminated." They affirmed, "KMSA will not yield to an oppressive government and will not allow the government to put future patients at risk." They also requested support, saying, "We ask for your support as we fight for the health of the people."

The government has announced strict measures against key figures involved in collective actions that caused disruption in the medical field. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of 11 a.m. on the 29th, 8,945 residents, accounting for 72% of residents at 100 training hospitals, had left their workplaces. Among them, 7,854 residents who did not return despite orders to resume work were issued non-compliance confirmation letters on the same day. Starting from that day, the ministry plans to conduct on-site inspections to confirm their return and proceed with administrative procedures for license suspension.

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