Medical School Professors' Mass Resignation 'D-3'... Is There Still a Chance for Dialogue?

The Emergency Response Committee of Professors from Medical Schools Nationwide, who have resolved to submit their resignations on the 25th, will discuss future response measures. While some analysis suggests that there is still a possibility of dialogue with the government, they are expected to first assess the impact of the government's decision on the allocation of medical school quotas.

According to the government and the medical community on the 22nd, the Emergency Response Committee of Professors from Medical Schools Nationwide will hold a meeting in the afternoon. This is the first meeting since the government finalized the distribution of increased medical school quotas by school two days ago.

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The committee has already resolved to submit resignation letters by university starting on the 25th. The schools that participated in the meeting on the 15th, where the resolution to submit resignations was discussed, include Kangwon National University, Konkuk University, Konyang University, Keimyung University, Gyeongsang National University, Dankook University, Daegu Catholic University (submitted in writing), Pusan National University, Seoul National University, Ajou University, Yonsei University, Ulsan University, Wonkwang University, Ewha Womans University, Inje University, Jeonbuk National University, Jeju National University, Chungnam National University, Chungbuk National University, and Hanyang University. Subsequently, Sungkyunkwan University and others also agreed to submit resignations separately, so all university professors affiliated with the so-called 'Big 5' hospitals have decided to resign.

On this day, the committee is expected to assess the situations of schools, professors, and students following the government's allocation of medical school quotas by school. On the 20th, the government officially announced the 2025 academic year medical school student quota, increased by 2,000 from the previous number, and the allocation results by university. Of the 2,000 additional quotas, 82% were allocated to non-metropolitan areas, and 18% to Incheon and Gyeonggi.

However, there remains a possibility of resolving the situation through dialogue with the government. Ban Jae-seung, chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of Professors from Medical Schools Nationwide, appeared on a broadcast the day before and said, "If the government lifts the measures on residents and creates a platform for dialogue, our professors may also withdraw their resignation submissions." The Emergency Response Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital also issued an official statement saying, "We still expect dialogue with the government as a mediator," and "We believe there is room to resolve the situation through dialogue after listening to the positions of residents and students."

This is interpreted as a step back from the medical community's announcement on the 16th that 'professors from 16 medical schools will submit resignations on the 25th' and their demand that the government 'first' withdraw the plan to increase quotas by 2,000. At that time, Chairman Ban stated, "We think the government must first withdraw the 2,000 quota increase for an agreement to be reached, and we are submitting resignations to prevent a medical catastrophe."

The Emergency Response Committee of Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital also expressed regret over the government's announcement of the medical school quota increase but maintains its position to continue its role as a 'mediator.' They reiterated their willingness to engage in dialogue with the government and promised to protect the clinical field.

The National Association of Medical School Professors (Jeonui Gyohyeop), a separate professors' organization from the Emergency Response Committee of Professors from Medical Schools Nationwide, also expressed an intention to communicate with the government to find solutions. Professor Cho Yoon-jung of Korea University College of Medicine emphasized at a Jeonui Gyohyeop briefing the day before, "This is a time when dialogue is more necessary than ever." Currently, Jeonui Gyohyeop is discussing response measures with the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Intern Resident Association (Daejeonhyeop), and the Korean Medical School and Graduate Medical School Student Association (Uidae-hyeop).

However, there are still strong internal moves for a tough response. Jeonui Gyohyeop is taking legal action by filing lawsuits to cancel the increase in medical school admission quotas and requests for suspension of execution at the Administrative Court. Additionally, arguing that there may be procedural defects in the government's announcement of the increased medical school admission quotas, they plan to submit a request for clarification to the Seoul Administrative Court on the 22nd. Jeonui Gyohyeop intends to demand the court to require Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho to disclose the list of members of the allocation committee, meeting minutes, and reporting materials related to the regional and university-specific quota increase decisions for the medical school admission quota increase decision.

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