President Lee urges action to bring med students back this fall

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that the government should create an environment that encourages medical students to return for the second semester.

Lee also expressed hope that Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Eun-kyeong would help resolve the ongoing conflict between the government and the medical community, emphasizing the need for frank dialogue.

He made the remarks during a nationally televised news conference marking his first month in office, in response to a question about the protracted standoff between the government and doctors.

“When I took office, I reviewed various national issues in advance. Among them, the medical crisis was the area where I felt the least confident. But things now appear to be improving,” Lee said. “With the change in government, distrust seems to be easing, and some trainee doctors and medical students have already returned.”

“Relevant officials must work to create a government-level situation that enables students to return for the second semester,” he continued. “The medical community has also welcomed the nomination of Jeong Eun-kyeong as health minister. That’s a hopeful sign.”

Lee attributed much of the conflict to the former administration's handling of healthcare reform.

“The previous government’s excessive and unreasonable policies—and their incomprehensible unilateral enforcement—worsened the situation and damaged the healthcare system. The national losses were substantial,” he said. “The government and the medical community should engage in prompt and candid discussions to resolve this issue.”

“Before I became president, I met Park Dan, then head of the Korea Intern Resident Association’s emergency committee, and other medical organizations. I found that mistrust was the biggest cause of the conflict,” Lee said. “I believe this can be resolved if we rebuild trust, hold sufficient dialogue, and make compromises where needed. I look forward to the swift appointment of the health minister.”

Lee also said that the president should take ultimate responsibility for conflicts stemming from government policy implementation.

“If career civil servants promoted a policy, they were simply executing the direction set by the top official with appointment authority,” he said. “Criticizing them would be unfair—the person responsible is the president, who makes the final personnel decisions and must take responsibility for major policies.”

Lee’s remark may be interpreted as suggesting that former President Yoon Suk Yeol—not the Ministry of Health and Welfare—should be held accountable for issues stemming from the previous administration’s decision to increase the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000.

As a result, observers said the medical community’s call for disciplinary action against Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong and Second Vice Minister Park Min-soo is unlikely to be accepted under the new administration.

Minister Cho has repeatedly said during National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee meetings, “I was responsible for the increase of 2,000 medical school students. I will take responsibility as a member of the cabinet.”