SEOUL — The South Korean presidential office reaffirmed its commitment to increasing medical school admissions by 2,000 students, aiming to address the country's doctor shortage. This decision stands firm despite ongoing protests from doctors' groups demanding a reconsideration of the quota increase.
According to Yonhap News Agency, director of national policy at the presidential office, the decision was based on comprehensive projections. During a press briefing, Tae-yoon explained, "We continue to think that is the number of people needed. We initially needed 3,000 to fill the shortage of doctors, but the government is thinking around 2,000 now in consideration of various factors." This statement comes amid a widespread walkout by thousands of intern and resident doctors from major general hospitals in Seoul and other regions, which began last Tuesday in protest against the government's proposed increase in medical school admissions from the current 3,058.
The government's stance underscores its determination to tackle the shortage of healthcare professionals in the nation, despite opposition from the medical community. The protests reflect deep-seated concerns among doctors about the implications of increasing the number of medical school seats, including the impact on training quality and healthcare delivery.