Former Medical Association President: "If I return, I acknowledge being a slave... Even if agreed, residents will not return"

Former Korean Medical Association President Roh Hwan-gyu, who has continuously posted on social networking service (SNS) accounts opposing the government's plan to increase medical school quotas, claimed that "although a sudden agreement between the government and medical representatives (의정) is unlikely, even if it happens, will it lead to the sudden return of residents?" and argued that the medical crisis will continue.

On the 1st, former President Roh wrote on SNS that he was skeptical about the possibility of residents returning if an agreement on medical school quotas between the government and medical representatives is reached. He explained the reasons as follows: "First, the wounds of doctors caused by the government's abuse of public authority, such as issuing various orders and threats, are too deep; second, there is a widespread perception among doctors that returning under these conditions means accepting a slave status; and third, the skepticism about obtaining specialist certification has increased, especially in essential medical fields."

Former President of the Korean Medical Association, Noh Hwan-gyu, is expressing his position before appearing at the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 9th to undergo police investigation regarding allegations of conspiring collective resignation of residents.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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He continued, "Reports have emerged that among medical students, the so-called vitality and willingness to specialize dropped from 83.9% to 19.4% around the announcement of the essential medical policy package on February 6, and the belief that obtaining a specialist certification is essential also decreased from 91.4% to 32.4%." He then wrote, "The medical crisis triggered by President Yoon Seok-yeol is just beginning," describing it as "a crisis that will quietly continue without people noticing," thereby attributing responsibility for the medical crisis to President Yoon. Former President Roh has consistently voiced strong opposition to the government's plan to increase medical school quotas. On the 26th of last month, he criticized the current administration, saying, "Even the Moon Jae-in administration was not at this level," and explained, "This is why doctors say, 'We might as well vote for the Democratic Party.'"

Meanwhile, former President Roh is under police investigation on charges of inciting and abetting collective resignation and collective action by residents, along with Joo Su-ho, the Korean Medical Association Emergency Committee's Public Relations Chair; Park Myung-ha, Emergency Committee Organization Chair; Kim Taek-woo, Emergency Committee Chair; and Lim Hyun-taek, President of the Korean Pediatric Society.

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