The opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) urged President Yoon Suk Yeol to “admit policy failures and apologize,” saying he was responsible for the medical crisis by pushing too hard to increase the number of medical students.

The largest opposition party also demanded President Yoon dismiss the minister and vice minister of health and welfare and the senior presidential secretary for social affairs.

Rep. Jin Sung-joon, DPK’s chief policymaker, said so at Tuesday's party meeting to discuss floor strategies.

“There are no hospitals to go to when you are sick. Patients who are forced to wander around emergency rooms amid the medical vacuum are venting their anger,” he said. “Until last month, emergency rooms were closed for a day or two or reduced some services. From this month, however, even weekend and nighttime services have been suspended.”

Jin continued, “The people are in an urgent situation of medical collapse, but President Yoon says there are no problems at hospitals. The nation’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse. A cabinet minister even said it would win if the government could hold out for six months. The Yoon administration should admit its policy failures and apologize to the people.”

Jin called for Yoon to sack the ministers and vice ministers of health and welfare and the senior presidential secretary for social affairs and hold them accountable.

“Minister of Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Park Min-soo, and Jang Sang-yoon, senior presidential secretary for social affairs, should be held accountable for the medical crisis,” he said.

Jin also urged Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), to join the formation of a task force to resolve the medical crisis.

“Han's proposal to review and adjust the enrollment increase for the 2026 academic year from the ground up was flatly rejected,” Jin said. “Let's find a way for the ruling and opposition parties to devise a plan that will elicit an apology from the government, punish those in charge, and bring trainee doctors back.”