Seoul, Feb 13 (IANS) — South Korea’s Second Vice Health Minister, Park Min-soo, has called upon the medical community to reengage in discussions with the government to resolve the ongoing deadlock over medical reform.
Speaking at a government meeting on Thursday, Park expressed deep disappointment over the current lack of dialogue between the government and medical professionals. He urged doctors’ groups to return to the negotiation table to address the impasse, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The dispute stems from the government’s announcement to increase medical school admissions by 1,500 students for 2025 as part of a larger plan to add approximately 10,000 students over the next five years. The initiative aims to alleviate the country’s doctor shortage; however, it has been met with strong opposition from the medical community.
Since February last year, thousands of trainee doctors have engaged in a mass resignation, leaving their posts in protest against the policy. The medical community has consistently urged the government to reconsider the expansion, citing concerns over the impact on medical education and patient care.
Park emphasized that the government remains committed to normalizing the healthcare system and addressing the concerns of junior doctors. He also warned against any deliberate efforts to disrupt medical education and patient treatment as a means to pressure the government into conceding to demands.
“Some fear that the continued absence of discussions and the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors are intended to create a crisis in medical education and healthcare services, thereby compelling the government to yield,” Park stated. “I sincerely hope such concerns are unfounded, and I assure that such actions will not be tolerated.”
In a potential step toward resolution, Acting President Choi Sang-mok recently indicated that the government is open to revisiting the proposed medical school quota adjustments. Last month, Choi announced that authorities are willing to negotiate the 2026 medical school admissions increase from a zero base, provided the medical community engages in constructive discussions.
“If the medical community participates in discussions, we are prepared to flexibly determine the scale of the 2026 medical school quota increase from scratch,” Choi affirmed during a ministerial meeting on social issues.
The government’s stance signals a willingness to find common ground, but the ultimate resolution remains contingent upon the readiness of medical professionals to resume dialogue.
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