Seoul: The government is reportedly leaning towards abandoning a controversial plan to increase medical school admissions for the upcoming year. This decision comes as part of efforts to resolve an ongoing dispute with trainee doctors, according to sources familiar with the matter.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during a policy consultation with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and a subsequent closed-door meeting with relevant ministries and the presidential office, the government decided to comply with requests from the ruling party and the medical community. The plan had initially aimed to increase the annual admissions quota for medical schools by 2,000, to address a shortage of doctors. However, it will now remain at 3,058, the figure set before the proposal was made last year.
In a press briefing at the National Assembly, PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong emphasized the urgency of normalizing medical school education. He stated that the proposal from the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate School of Medicine (KAMC) to keep the admissions quota at 3,058 is considered reasonable. This proposal was put forward by KAMC, a consultative body of medical school deans, last month.
The decision comes amid concerns over potential disruptions to the country's health system and medical education due to the prolonged walkout by over 10,000 junior doctors. The government is expected to announce its final decision during a press briefing on normalizing medical school education, scheduled for Friday.
The government's decision is contingent upon the condition that medical school students return to their classrooms by the end of March, ensuring that classes can proceed normally.