SEOUL - In response to growing tensions with the medical community, the South Korean health ministry on Wednesday reiterated its appeal to trainee doctors and medical students, urging them to avoid engaging in collective actions against the planned increase in medical school admissions. The discord stems from the government's recent decision to augment the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats next year, elevating the total from the current 3,058.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the government is committed to enhancing the working conditions for young doctors and has called upon the trainee doctors and medical students to devote their efforts towards their training and studies instead of protesting. Park also appealed to the Korean Medical Association, a significant entity in the medical sector, to dissuade its members from participating in any collective actions. Despite these appeals, the medical community has not yet disclosed any plans for future protests. The ministry, however, issued a stern warning, stating it would take firm actions against any unlawful activities, including potentially revoking medical licenses.
The stance of the medical community towards this policy change remains uncertain as the health ministry's warnings loom. Concurrently, the Korean Nurses Association expressed its support for the government's initiative to increase the medical school intake, advocating for doctors to remain in their positions and not to abandon their posts in protest.