New KMA leader calls for ‘halting all medical policies pushed by Yoon’

Kim Taek-woo, president-elect of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), has called for a “master plan” for medical education in 2025.

He also urged the government to halt the healthcare reform plan led by the Special Committee on Healthcare Reform, which operates under the president's direct authority.

The new leader of the nation's largest doctors’ group effectively called for a complete halt to the government's ongoing healthcare reform policies.

Kim made these remarks while meeting with reporters after receiving his election certificate for the 43rd president of the KMA on Wednesday. Kim won the election with 17,007 votes (60.38 percent) in the runoff, defeating opponent Joo Soo-ho, who received 11,160 votes (39.62 percent).

Kim was the only candidate in the election who insisted on revisiting the 2025 medical school enrollment target from scratch. He believes medical education will inevitably be disrupted this year if things continue as they are.

The new KMA head also opposed the revised proposal to reduce the enrollment quota for 2026 in return for maintaining the 2025 quota increase set by the government, saying he cannot discuss the 2026 issue without addressing the class of 2025.

Even after the first vote counting last Saturday, Kim said, “All medical policies that President Yoon Suk Yeol has promoted should be temporarily suspended.”

Kim did not immediately pull out his fight card after the election. Still, he made it clear that dialogue is difficult if the government continues to move forward unilaterally.

He promised to respect the opinions of medical students and residents, demanding that the policy to increase the medical school enrollment quota for 2025 be nullified. He also promised to reflect their voices in operating KMA and responding to the conflict between the government and the medical community.

Kim also left open the possibility of letting Park Dan, head of the Korean Intern Resident Association’s emergency committee, join the KMA executive board.

The following is a Q&A between Kim and the journalists.

Question: What will you do first to resolve the government-doctor conflict?

Answer: The first thing we must do is to discuss whether medical education in 2025 is possible. To this end, the government should come up with a master plan for medical education. We cannot discuss the issue of 2026 when there is no clear plan for the class of 2025. We demand a master plan from the government.

Q: Are you considering staging a strike led by KMA?

A: A strike won't solve everything. However, if the government drives the medical community into a corner (by rejecting our proposals), we have only one option left. The government does not have a decision-maker at the moment (due to the presidency vacancy). Therefore, the government and the medical community must work together to solve the problem.

Q: If the government presents a master plan for medical education, will KMA participate in the Special Committee for Healthcare Reform?

A: The committee is directly under the president. The president is currently suspended. So, of course, there should be no presidential committee. The issues the committee has discussed also cannot be decided immediately. However, the government has said it will continue discussing related issues, including uncovered treatments or actual cost insurance and start a debate. That shows the lack of respect for the medical community as a policy partner. It is difficult for the medical community and the government to reach a consensus now, so we are asking them to stop the process.

Q: Does this mean you don't want to meet with the government immediately?

A: We will talk to the government after the medical community has finalized its positions on major agenda items. The medical community has disagreed with the government's healthcare reform agenda across regions and occupations, and we need time for that. So, it is very mistaken for the government to unilaterally schedule a meeting and demand that the medical community join it. It's not good manners.

Q: Is there any plan for the KMA to conduct educational field checks before new students enter?

A: The Ministry of Education is responsible for checking the educational field. Until now, the ministry has been irrationally deciding and implementing policies. The ministry should have already finished checking the medical community’s proposals and implemented solutions. It hasn't done so, which is a dereliction of duty.

Q: What about communication with medical students and residents? Will KMA’s new executive board include Park Dan, head of the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA)’s emergency committee?

A: Medical students and trainee doctors are the main players in the ongoing turmoil. It is important to create a structure that reflects their voices. We will ensure that their voices are reflected in the association's affairs and the response to the crisis. We need to discuss (Park’s joining the executive committee) in the future. I will consult with the medical students and junior physicians to see if it is appropriate for them to have a voice as part of the KMA, if they should have a voice at the level of the KIRA, or if a new task force should be formed.