President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would continue to support the government's plan to increase the number of medical students and reform healthcare.

President Yoon pointed out that the lack of a unified medical community proposal regarding the medical school enrollment quota increase is a stumbling block to the dialog.

Yoon said so at a news conference on Thursday, looking back on his administration’s first two years in office.

In his “report to the people” before the press conference, the chief executive explained that while the government pushes for expanding medical school admissions, it also works to establish a fair compensation system, a regional medical support system, and a medical accident safety net so that more doctors can provide essential medical care.

In a question-and-answer session following the report, reporters asked Yoon how the government plans to expand medical students and promote healthcare reform in the face of fierce opposition from the medical community.

"There is no one-size-fits-all solution to (medical school admission increase and healthcare reform). After all, we must resolve the issue through free and democratic persuasion,” Yoon said. “However, medical reform, including the expansion of medical students, is a task that cannot be postponed any longer in light of the explosive growth in medical demand and the need to strengthen regional and essential medical care."

Yoon noted that the government has been dealing with this issue with the medical community for more than a year (virtually) since this administration took office. He also emphasized that the government did not announce the 2,000 more medical students out of the blue.

"It seems to be realistically difficult for a unified opinion to emerge. The lack of a unified position among various organizations representing the interests of doctors, including the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Intern Resident Association, the Korean Hospital Association, and the Korean Council for University Education, is a stumbling block to the dialogue," he said.

The President continued, "We can't put off (increasing medical school students and healthcare reform) indefinitely. (The medical community) wants to keep postponing it, but the government will continue to walk the path of healthcare reform for the people according to the roadmap it has in mind."

Yoon stressed that healthcare reform is also important to address the declining birthrate.

"Healthcare reform is also very important to solve the birthrate problem. Now that parents cannot treat their ill children at hospitals appropriately, we must establish essential healthcare and regional medical systems for children properly," Yoon said.

Yoon also announced that he will create a tentatively named “Low Birth Response Planning Ministry,” suggesting a reorganization of government ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which are highly related to this issue.