SEOUL — President Yoon Suk Yeol has directed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to enhance dialogue with the medical community concerning the government's contentious medical reform initiatives. This directive comes as junior doctors continue a month-long strike protesting the proposed increase in medical school admissions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the instruction was given during the president's weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han at the presidential office. The protests by thousands of junior doctors have been primarily against the government's plan to expand medical school admissions by 2,000 seats starting next year.
The president has emphasized the need for the prime minister to engage more closely with various sectors of society, particularly the medical community, to address the ongoing dispute. This comes after Yoon suggested the prime minister explore "flexible" approaches to manage the suspension of medical licenses, a measure expected to be implemented against protesting doctors starting Tuesday.
Additionally, President Yoon tasked Prime Minister Han with ensuring the proper management of the upcoming April 10 parliamentary elections, highlighting the importance of assisting individuals with mobility issues in reaching polling stations.
Meetings between Prime Minister Han and representatives from the medical community are scheduled to take place as early as Tuesday. A high-ranking government official, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that a platform for dialogue is expected to be established by no later than the end of the week, aiming to resolve the standoff and restore normalcy to the healthcare sector.