The Korean Medical Association (KMA) has rejected the government’s proposal to grant admission autonomy to medical schools, leading to increasing tensions within the medical community. With 140,000 medical professionals as members, the KMA is the largest professional organization for Korean doctors and has been actively involved in recent strikes and protests. The KMA representative stated that the government’s decision was seen as a temporary solution rather than a fundamental and core solution to the issues at hand.
The government recently made concessions to the medical community by allowing medical schools to determine their own enrollment quotas starting next year. This move came after public opinion shifted against the proposed increase in enrollment targets, with nearly 60% of people surveyed calling for adjustments to the health reform plan. The government’s decision to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 places from 2025 was met with backlash from doctors and medical professionals who believed it would affect the quality of medical services and create a surplus of doctors.
The ongoing strikes by resident doctors and support from medical students and professors have led to a crisis in Korean healthcare. Patients are facing delays in treatment and surgery due to the government revoking practice licenses and considering criminal sanctions against protesting doctors. The government argues that increasing enrollment targets is necessary to address the aging population and strengthen the medical force in essential sectors like pediatrics, emergency medicine, and surgery. However, this solution has been met with resistance from many within the medical community who fear it will only worsen existing issues such as overworked doctors and poor working conditions in hospitals.
