President Yoon nails down his push to increase medical school admission quota by 2,000 seats

President Yoon Suk Yeol has strongly reaffirmed the government's commitment to increase the medical school admission quota, aiming to tackle a persistent issue that has faced numerous setbacks in past administrations.

In a statement from the Presidential Office in Yongsan on Monday, President Yoon called the doctors' group a "cartel" and stated that past governments have fought this battle nine times and lost nine times, allowing the cartel to become more entrenched over time.

"Korea cannot afford to repeat these failures," he said.

Yoon asked the medical community to come up with a "science-backed" proposal if they cannot accept the 2,000 seat increase plan, instead of walking off their jobs. It has been over a month since trainee doctors left teaching hospitals en mass in Korea. 

By critiquing the medical sector for not presenting a unified internal proposal despite disagreeing with the 2,000 slots increase, President Yoon suggested that the government is still open to negotiation, should the medical community align on a consensus.

"The government's policy is always open, and if better opinions and rational bases are presented, government policy can change in a better direction."

This stance comes amid ongoing strong opposition from the medical community against the proposed expansion of medical school admissions.

"Some critics argue that increasing by 2,000 is excessive, and some even blast the government for deciding unilaterally, in a haphazard manner, on the 2,000 increase," Yoon said.

Yoon defended the government's decision, stating that the minimum expansion size was meticulously calculated and derived after ample discussion and scientific calculation.

He further elaborated on the general public's consensus about the shortage of doctors in Korea and cited research supporting the need for this expansion.

"No matter the research methodology, it concludes that considering the natural increase and decrease, there will be a shortage of at least 10,000 doctors by 2035," the president said. "We need to add 5,000 doctors immediately and aim to increase the total by at least 15,000 by 2035."

President Yoon also addressed the historical failures of past governments in implementing medical reforms and increasing medical school quotas, expressing a determined will to succeed where others have not.

He said doctors' strike was a significant threat to society.

"Over the last 27 years, no government has succeeded in increasing doctor quotas and implementing healthcare reforms despite 90 percent of the population being in favor."

In light of ongoing collective actions, including work stoppages by resident doctors, President Yoon expressed his regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and thanked those enduring hardships for supporting the government's healthcare reform efforts.

He warned that the state would have to respond according to law and principle against any illegal collective actions compromising public health.

"No one can hold privileges over the public, and that goes without saying for doctors handling the lives of the populace," Yoon said. "All procedures are being conducted according to the law, and resident doctors should not refuse the delivery of notices but should return to the medical field as soon as possible."

President Yoon is biased,  abusing power: medical community

The medical community in Korea has collectively expressed criticism towards President Yoon Suk Yeol's statements on healthcare reform and the expansion of medical school admissions.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) president-elect, Lim Hyun-taek stressed that he has no opinion regarding Yoon's comment, but added that "I do not even want to comment on why we have no opinion."

Former KMA President Roh Hwan-kyu took to Facebook to post the full text of President Yoon's address, criticizing it by saying, "The president, as expected, did not back down."

However, Roh stated that President Yoon also made false claims.

Roh accused the president of providing biased information and described it as an abuse of power. "If, as you say, saving healthcare requires suspending doctors' licenses, and that leads to the paralysis of medical services, then it is your politics that is at fault," Roh said. "The whole nation knows this, and you are the only one who does not."