[Exclusive] Tertiary Hospital Director Demands "Reconsideration of Enrollment Increase for 2026 Academic Year"... Government Says "Impossible"

It has been confirmed that the heads of tertiary hospitals have requested the government to reconsider the increase in medical school admissions for the 2026 academic year from the beginning.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Before the order to prohibit acceptance of resident resignation letters and the orders to maintain medical services and resume work were withdrawn on the 4th, a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare met with the heads of tertiary hospitals to discuss plans for the return of departing residents.

The senior official who chaired this meeting stated on the 7th, "The heads of tertiary hospitals proposed that while maintaining the increase in admissions for the 2025 academic year, the medical school quota for the 2026 academic year should be reconsidered from the beginning." The official added, "The heads of tertiary hospitals suggested that 'residents will return only if the 2026 medical school quota is reconsidered from the beginning,' but the government responded that this is 'impossible.'"

He explained, "The government has consistently stated that reconsideration from the beginning is impossible," and added, "There has been no change from the previous position that if the medical community brings a unified and reasonable proposal, it can be reviewed." He further emphasized, "If the medical community presents a unified proposal regarding the increase in medical school admissions, including for the 2026 academic year, it can be reviewed, but 'reconsideration from the beginning' will not be considered."

Tertiary hospitals are comprehensive hospitals specializing in the treatment of high-difficulty diseases at the top of Korea’s three-tiered medical delivery system, with 47 hospitals designated this year. As of this year, tertiary hospitals account for 2,293 of the 3,204 newly admitted residents (first-year residents), representing 72% of the total.

Following the first meeting of the Medical Reform Special Committee last month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated in a press release, "The government has repeatedly expressed that it is willing to discuss whenever the medical community presents a unified proposal based on reasonable and scientific grounds, and except for the 2025 academic year quota, which cannot be adjusted due to scheduling, any discussion is possible." However, the ministry maintains that 'reconsideration from the beginning' cannot be regarded as a reasonable and scientific unified proposal.

Meanwhile, at 9 a.m. on the same day, the government held a meeting of the Central Accident Response Headquarters for the doctors’ collective action to discuss countermeasures against the medical community’s strike, including Seoul National University College of Medicine, which has announced a full suspension of medical services starting on the 17th.

The Emergency Response Committee of Professors from Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital (ERC) decided on a full strike excluding essential departments such as emergency rooms and intensive care units starting from the 17th, based on a strike vote conducted among all professors at four hospitals: Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Metropolitan Boramae Hospital, and Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center.

The ERC stated, "The full suspension of medical services will continue until the government completely cancels all orders to maintain medical services and resume work for all residents, acknowledges responsibility for worsening the current situation due to attempts to deprive self-determination rights, and takes visible measures." A Ministry of Health and Welfare official said, "Completely canceling the orders to maintain medical services and resume work is an excessive demand," and added, "The residents just need to return."

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