Jinju - In a significant display of dissent, a group of professors at Gyeongsang National University has taken a firm stand against the proposed increase in medical school admissions quotas. The educators offered to resign from their administrative roles to voice their opposition to the university's and the government's recent decisions affecting medical education capacity.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the university sought to expand its admission slots from 76 to 200, aligning with a government survey aimed at augmenting medical school seats nationwide. Despite the faculty's expressed reservations, which were communicated during discussions with the university's leadership, their concerns were reportedly overlooked. In response, twelve professors proposed to relinquish their administrative posts, including positions such as dean and department chief, as a form of protest. Additionally, two professors indicated their intention to resign entirely, objecting to the overarching government policy that seeks to raise the medical school quota. This development followed the government's announcement that 40 medical schools applied for a total of 3,401 new seats, surpassing the planned increase. Concurrently, an association representing professors from 33 medical institutions initiated legal action to challenge the quota expansion, arguing that the process lacked proper authorizatio n and failed to engage key stakeholders, thereby contravening constitutional principles.
Sejong - Amidst an escalating standoff with striking medical professionals, President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged a stringent response to the walkout by trainee doctors, now extending beyond two weeks. The President's statement came during a Cabinet session held in Sejong, signaling a decisive governmental posture against the medical practitioners' defiance, linked to a contentious policy to expand medical school enrollment.According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon criticized the collective action by doctors as a dereliction of duty that undermines liberal values and the rule of law, emphasizing the necessity of a lawful and principled response to safeguard public health. In response to the doctors' unyielding stance against the government's ultimatum, which offered clemency for returning workers by a specified deadline, measures are underway to suspend the licenses of those continuing the strike. Yoon elaborated on government strategies to mobilize resources across ministries, aiming to mitigate the strike's impact on healthcare services. The administration also plans to allocate substantial reserve funds to bolster emergency medical services and reward personnel who maintain their posts during this crisis.
Seoul – In response to the ongoing strike by trainee doctors, the South Korean government has allocated 128.5 billion won from its reserve funds to mitigate disruptions in medical services. The decision, announced Wednesday, comes amid a standoff between the government and medical trainees, who have been striking since February 20 to protest a policy to increase medical school admissions.According to Yonhap News Agency, the earmarked funds will support the employment of medical personnel during weekends and holidays, the integration of military doctors into civilian healthcare settings, and the facilitation of patient transfers among clinics. The initiative reflects the government's urgency in maintaining healthcare operations, especially in emergency and critical care contexts, as trainee physicians play pivotal roles in hospital staffing.
The government's financial intervention aims to alleviate the strain on healthcare facilities, which has been exacerbated by the mass resignation of trainee doctors. The latter are protesting the government's plan to raise the number of medical school seats in an effort to address perceived shortages and enhance medical service distribution. However, despite these measures, there is little indication that the deadlock between the government and medical community is nearing resolution, highlighting the ongoing tension and its repercussions on the nation's healthcare system.