SEOUL: South Korea’s government has made its first concession to striking doctors on Friday, aiming to halt a two-month-long walkout sparked by proposed increases to medical school enrollment.
Since February 20, when thousands of trainee doctors began their protest against a planned rise in annual admissions by 2,000 slots, hospitals have grappled with canceled treatments and surgeries. While the government argues that its initiative would alleviate doctor shortages, medical professionals and trainees contend that it would diminish education and health service quality.
This week, the heads of six public universities suggested scaling back the enrollment increase by up to 50 percent and granting universities autonomy to set their admission quotas, offering a potential resolution to the strike.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced on Friday that the government “accepts the suggestions from the presidents of national universities.” For the 2025 academic year, 32 universities will have the flexibility to recruit as few as 1,000 additional medical students or as many as 2,000 beyond their regular quota.
It remains uncertain whether trainee doctors, pivotal in emergency procedures and surgeries at general hospitals, will return to work following the government’s proposal.
The concession comes after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative ruling party suffered a significant defeat in recent parliamentary elections. South Korea’s medical community is calling for a thorough reevaluation of the reform plan, effectively urging its abandonment.
Lee Seok-young, spokesman for the Korean Medical Association (KMA), reiterated the organization’s unchanged stance. Former KMA head Joo Soo-ho criticized the government’s approach, stating, “It’s now unlikely that they are going to return to work no matter what happens to this reform plan.”
Public sentiment initially favored the government during the doctors’ walkout, but recent polls suggest a shift, with nearly 60 percent of respondents in a Dong-A Ilbo poll indicating the need for adjustments to the reform’s scale and timing.
The main opposition Democratic Party, which secured the majority of seats in the National Assembly, criticized President Yoon for the stalemate and urged revision of the reform plan.
Han emphasized that the government’s decision aims to “protect the lives and health of the people.” Junior doctors’ express frustration, citing tough working conditions and viewing the education reforms as the final straw. Despite the government’s proposal, the Korean Intern Resident Association insists on a reevaluation.
While proponents argue that doctors are safeguarding their salaries and social status, some trainees express disinterest in pursuing a medical career regardless of the reform’s fate. Previously, the government had urged doctors to return to their patients, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance and suspending the medical licenses of at least two doctors.
