"After Taking a Leave from Medical School to Travel Europe"... Update from Former Medical Association President

As medical students continue to take leaves of absence in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school quotas, former Korean Medical Association (KMA) president Roh Hwan-gyu shared an update by revealing a conversation with a medical student.

Roh, who previously wrote on social media that "the government cannot defeat doctors," is currently under police investigation along with Joo Su-ho, KMA Emergency Response Committee (ERC) Public Relations Chair; Park Myung-ha, ERC Organization Chair; Kim Taek-woo, ERC member; and Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Society, on charges of inciting and abetting collective resignation and collective action by residents.

On the 23rd, Roh posted on his Facebook, "I met with a medical student and had various conversations," adding, "Although I had expected it, hearing it directly was even more shocking."

[Photo by Noh Hwan-gyu SNS capture]

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When Roh asked, "The media says the participation rate of medical students taking leave is in the 30% range, but what is the actual rate?" the student replied, "That figure refers to the rate of those who have fulfilled all requirements such as parental and department head approvals. The actual participation rate exceeds 90%."

Regarding the students' mood, the student said, "At first, some people joined because of the wave, but now everyone seems resigned," adding, "There are almost no students who want to return quickly or think they should return. Taking a one-year leave of absence is generally accepted."

When Roh asked, "How are you spending your time?" the student answered, "I went on a week-long trip to Europe. I thought, 'Ah~ so this is how the world lives...' It made me realize I had been living too hard until now."

The reason for the students' resignation, the student explained, is "I didn't know the government could be this cruel or that doctors could be this powerless. Honestly, the desire to correct what is wrong has greatly diminished," adding, "The shock that society is not moving in a just direction is huge. Seeing doctors demonized has left many emotional scars. I was especially shocked by the conservative camp attacking doctors."

Medical staff are moving at a university hospital in Incheon on the 7th.
Photo by Yonhap News

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When Roh asked about prospects for an agreement between the medical community and the government, the student said, "It's impossible. Returning to the previous state is impossible. Also, medical students currently have no representatives," adding, "The Korean Medical Students Association only conducts surveys and produces statistics but lacks representativeness. So no one knows what will happen next, and no one has any thoughts. There is simply no motivation to return and no thoughts about what will happen."

Regarding the atmosphere among senior residents and others, the student said, "Many have given up on training itself. Even if there is an agreement with the government, I think few will return," explaining, "Because the reason for training has disappeared. My seniors don't even expect professors to resign. Now, it seems they think of this not as a struggle but simply as giving up."

Roh added, "The student seemed powerless throughout the conversation and kept sighing."

On the afternoon of the 3rd, participants at the Nationwide Doctors' General Rally held near Yeouidaero beside Yeouido Park in Seoul shouted slogans calling for an end to medical oppression, aiming to block the increase in medical school quotas and the essential medical package.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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According to the Ministry of Education, as of the 22nd, a cumulative total of 8,951 students from 40 medical schools nationwide have submitted valid leave of absence applications. This accounts for 47.6% of the total medical students (18,793) nationwide as of April last year.

Earlier, some residents and medical students who do not agree with the collective action opposing the expansion of medical school admissions called for an end to bullying and coercion against students occurring in some places.

On the 23rd, "Medical Students and Residents with Different Opinions (Dasaeng-ui)" posted an urgent statement on their Instagram account titled "Demands to the Korean Medical Students Association and Each School." They lamented, "In the medical school community, constructive discussions on healthcare policy have disappeared, and only a dominant atmosphere demanding the identification of members who do not participate in the hardline actions opposing quota increases as 'traitors' prevails."

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