Seoul - The South Korean presidential office expressed disappointment over the ongoing dispute with doctors regarding the medical school admissions policy. In a statement on Tuesday, Jang Sang-yoon, senior presidential secretary for social policy, lamented the medical community's refusal to engage in government-proposed talks aimed at resolving the issue.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The government has suggested establishing a consultation body comprising representatives from both the medical community and government officials, but this has been met with resistance.
Jang emphasized the government's willingness to engage in “rational and constructive discussions” and urged the medical community to present a unified proposal before the launch of a special medical reform committee later this week. The dispute centers around a government decision to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 seats, which has led to significant disruptions since February 20, with approximately 12,000 trainee doctors walking out from their jobs. This protest has forced major hospitals to postpone or cancel surgeries and other critical health services.